New excavations at Gird Banahilk, a Halafian site in Iraqi ...

cover PaléorientRevue pluridisciplinaire de préhistoire et de protohistoirede l’Asie du Sud-Ouest et de l’Asie centrale 45-2 | 2019Entre Tigre et Zagros : redécouvrir la Préhistoire duKurdistan irakien

New excavations at Gird Banahilk, a Halafian site inIraqi Kurdistan: Farmer and herder communities inthe Upper Zagros MountainsAnna Gómez-Bach, Walter Cruells, Roger Alcántara, Maria Saña, MiquelMolist and Carolyne Douché

Electronic versionURL: https://journals.openedition.org/paleorient/680DOI: 10.4000/paleorient.680ISSN: 1957-701X

PublisherCNRS Éditions

Printed versionDate of publication: 1 December 2019Number of pages: 53-66ISSN: 0153-9345

Electronic referenceAnna Gómez-Bach, Walter Cruells, Roger Alcántara, Maria Saña, Miquel Molist and Carolyne Douché,“New excavations at Gird Banahilk, a Halafian site in Iraqi Kurdistan: Farmer and herder communitiesin the Upper Zagros Mountains”, Paléorient [Online], 45-2 | 2019, Online since 01 December 2021,connection on 15 December 2021. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/paleorient/680 ; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/paleorient.680

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https://journals.openedition.org/paleorient/680

New excavations at Gird Banahilk, a Halafian site in Iraqi Kurdistan: Farmer and herder communities in the Upper Zagros Mountains

A. GÓmez-Bach, W. Cruells, R. AlcÀntara, M. SaÑa, C. Douché and M. Molist

Abstract. Far less is understood of the nature of Late Neolithic settlement in the interior Zagros region in the 6th millennium BC compared with contemporary halafian settlement on the Tigris-Euphrates plains. This paper presents preliminary results of new excavations being conducted at the site of Banahilk (Soran, Iraqi Kurdistan) where 1950s Braidwood team excavations found evidence of Halaf material. The new work has revealed traces of domestic structures related to farmer and herder activities. New 14C dates indicate occupation in the middle and second half of the 6th millennium BC. The possibility of re-studying this site, as well as initiating a new fieldwork program in 2018, allows us to provide new stratigraphic and analytical data. This research enables inferences in both subsistence strategies and the network of products and objects in “marginal” regions.

Résumé. On comprend beaucoup moins la nature de la colonisation néolithique tardive dans la région intérieure du Zagros, au 6e millénaire av. J.-C., que la colonisation halafienne contemporaine dans les plaines du Tigre et de l’Euphrate. Cet article présente les résultats préliminaires des nouvelles fouilles en cours sur le site de Banahilk (Soran, Kurdistan irakien), où des fouilles effectuées par l’équipe de R.J. Braidwood dans les années 1950 ont mis au jour des traces de matériels halafiens. La nouvelle recherche a révélé des traces de structures domestiques liées aux activités des agriculteurs et des éleveurs. Les nouvelles datations 14C indiquent une occupation dans la deuxième moitié du 6e millénaire avant notre ère. La reprise des travaux de terrain, depuis 2018, offre la possibilité de réétudier ce site grâce à de nouvelles données analytiques et stratigraphiques. Ces dernières permettent de mieux appréhender l’économie de subsistance mais aussi les réseaux d’échanges dans une aire située « en marge » de l’aire traditionnelle de l’occupation Halaf.

Keywords. Neolithic, Halaf, Soran, Zagros, Iraqi Kurdistan

Mots-clés. Néolithique, Halaf, Soran, Zagros, Kurdistan irakien

The increasing activity of archaeological research in the southern regions of Turkey and Northern Syria and more recently Iraqi Kurdistan has generated a renewal of knowl-edge about the Halaf culture.

Although Halaf phenomenon has been defined by a package of attributes of material culture, the evidence of regional variations can be recognised. From their formative

phase about 6200 cal. BC until their disappearance about 5300 cal. BC, distinctive skills have been noted in this farmer and herder communities. Extensive exchange net-works based on obsidian, marble or pottery trade, architec-tural remains, textile activities or symbolic representations have been identified with non-state and non-ranked communities.

Paléorient, vol. 45.2, p. 53-66 © CNRS ÉDITIONS 2019 Manuscript received on 27 February 2019, accepted on 11 September 2019

Paléorient, vol. 45.2, p. 53-66 © CNRS ÉDITIONS 2019

54 A. Gómez-Bach, W. Cruells, R. AlcÀntara, M. SaÑa, C. Douché and M. Molist

The accepted characterisation refers to a group of contem-porary sites with quite homogeneous material culture, occu-pied by small farming villages, practising residual hunting and with a high redistribution of manufactured products.

It is widely recognised that the most outstanding results have been obtained by archaeological projects in the most western regions such as the Euphrates Valley to the eastern-most part of the Djezireh. It is worth recalling the importance of the new data obtained in the area of the Euphrates Valley, with Tell Amarna (Tunca et al. 2004), the occupations of Tell Halula (Molist 1996, 2013), Tell Zeidan (Stein 2010; Grossman and Hinman 2013), or also the southernmost and extremely interesting site of Tell Masaïkh (Robert 2010). The Balikh area has undoubtedly been revitalised thanks to the Tell Sabi Abyad project (Akkermans 1993, 1996; Akkermans et al. 2015) and Damishliyya site (Akkermans 1988). However, also in the area of the Djezireh we can cite the project at Chagar Bazar (Tunca et al. 2006; Cruells et al. 2013; Cruells and Gómez-Bach 2016) or those developed at Tell Halaf or Tell Tawila (Becker 2015) together with the contributions of Arbid Abyad (Mateiciucová

2010). Slightly further north, in Southeast Anatolia, we can highlight the investigations at the Domuztepe site (Campbell et al. 1999; Tekin 2016) as well as the interesting site of Fıstıklı Höyük (Bernbeck et al. 2003). It is also worth mentioning the innovation that has led to the location and study of settlements of this age in the area of the Upper Tigris (Erdalkiran 2018), where the settlement of Hakemi Use (Kültur Varlıkları 2013; Tekin 2013; Erdalkiran 2018) stands out in the documentation of archaeological data about representative settlements of this culture. This new documentation implies an updating of the synthesis and discussion of the horizon and its historical and archaeological significance, covering social and economic aspects, material culture and chronology (Directorate General of Antiquities 1976; Davidson 1977; Campbell 1992a, 2007; Akkermans 1993; Bréniquet 1996; Matthews 2000; Gómez et al 2016; Cruells 2017; Nieuwenhuyse 2017; fig. 1)

This renovation seems not to have affected the easternmost regions of Upper Mesopotamia. Geopolitical difficulties have until recently prevented the opening of new fieldwork in Northern Iraq, as well as revisions and collective studies

Fig. 1 – Northern Mesopotamia map with Banahilk location and main sites mentioned in the text (map Grampo, UAB).


New excavations at Gird Banahilk, a Halafian site in Iraqi Kurdistan: Farmer and herder communities in the Upper Zagros Mountains 55

(Braidwood 1954; Directorate General of Antiquities 1976; Campbell 1992b). However, research has been reactivated in the area of Iraqi Kurdistan in recent years (Altawell et al. 2012; Ur et al. 2013, 2017; Kopanias et al. 2013, 2015; Kopanias and McGinnis 2016; Iamoni 2016). Several sites in the Sulaymaniyah region, such as Tell Begum in Shahrizor among others, are providing levels with materials attributable to the Middle/Late Halaf chronological horizon (Nieuwenhuyse et al. 2016a, 2016b; Nieuwenhuyse 2018; Odaka et al. in this volume).

PREVIOUS WORK AT BANAHILK

P.J. Watson firstly excavated the Banahilk site in 1954 under the auspices of the Braidwoods’ project in the hilly flanks of Zagros led by the University of Chicago. This project established prehistoric research in the area until today (Braidwood 1954; Braidwood and Howe 1960; Braidwood et al. 1983).

This fieldwork and the studies derived from it have estab-lished the general lines of knowledge of this settlement up to the present (Watson 1983a, 1983b). According to the old description, it is a low mound approximately 5 m in height, with a roughly ovoid plan about 100 x 159 m in size, at 675 m above sea level. It is a hill at the intersection of two river courses, the tributary Balakiyan Rowanduz controlling the fer-tile valleys of Soran-Dyana, at a point that can be considered strategic visually, with access to basic natural resources such as water and crop fields or pasture. The initial work identified ceramic remains attributed to the Neolithic pottery of the Halaf period, which dates to the 6th millennium BC. The recovery of remnants of architecture associated with domestic units supported the interpretation of the site as a small Halaf village with the main material culture (lithic industry in flint and obsidian, painted ceramics, stoneware, etc.) and a series of radiometric dates that placed it in the Middle-Final Halaf (5700-5300 cal. BC). Today the site is located in a neighbour-hood of the city of Soran-Dyana, called Al matar, because during the British Mandate (1928-1932) the British built an air-base nearby, which was also used by the Iraqi army after the independence of Iraq. These works allowed the implementa-tion of prehistoric investigation in this region, near the Shanidar Cave, and located in the Northern Zagros plains.

After these works, the General Directorate of Antiquities has systematically collected Neolithic and Bronze Age mate-rials and supervised building activity in the area. More recently, in 2014, in the framework of an emergency action

sponsored by the General Directorate, a complementary survey was carried out. This was performed by the team of M. Danti (Penn Museum, Boston University) and was able to validate again the existence of stratigraphy, its state of conservation and recover Neolithic material (Kaercher 2016; fig. 2)

THE NEW EXCAVATIONS: OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

Fieldwork at Banahilk constitutes a study and a field action integrated into the current revision and extension of data on the 7th and 6th millennia in the northern region of Kurdistan. Indeed, in recent years within an initial goal of updating the

Fig. 2 – General plan site with main archaeological works developed (CAD Grampo, UAB).



archaeological record in the area of the Zagros hilly flanks, the archaeological material from Qalinj Agha dated in this period has been re-studied (Abu Al-Soof 1966, 1969); material col-lected on the surface by the General Directorate of Antiquities has been re-examined during the process of control of recent urban operations.

The ongoing archaeological research aims to contribute to the spatial delimitation and degree of conservation of the set-tlement, given the great urban transformation that the area has undergone. On a more scientific level, its objective is to specify the characteristics of the settlement, especially by expanding the information available from the surveys performed in the 1950s. The spatial analysis of the habitat was prioritised in order to identify domestic buildings and their interrelation. In addition, this research seeks to approach, through the paleo-economic study, the productive activities linked to subsis-tence, including farmer production (anthropological and carpological analyses) and livestock strategies (archaeozo-ology). Equally significant are studies related to the produc-tion and circulation of artefacts and raw materials. The ongoing analyses of the lithic materials (provenance of obsidian), ceramic productions and ornaments will help to determine circulation networks and exchanges and indirectly a broader social understanding. At this level, the geographic location of the settlement is very important. The fact that it is located in the northeastern part of the Halaf culture will help to define team research goals, such as the definition of cultural and economic areas in the Halaf world as a whole (Campbell and Fletcher 2013; Frangipane 2013; Gómez-Bach et al. 2016, 2018; Gómez-Bach 2017; Nieuwenhuyse 2017).

EXCAVATION RESULTS

Banahilk is located on a natural terrace of the wadi Saruchawai Diyana. This natural hill is located in the Matar neighbourhood of the city of Soran, in the Upper Zagros. Three soundings were opened in two different sectors in the upper part of the mound, located in a private garden. Two of them were opened in the north-west part of the garden, close to the perimeter wall of the house. Another one was opened in the southeastern part of the garden and close to the northern slope of the mound (fig. 3)

In general, the work identified open areas and layers related to an architectural occupation phase. Walls built with big stones and joined by soil are combined with other walls built with mud-bricks and mixed techniques such as mud-

bricks and stones. Other architectural remains such as mud-containers and silos appear with well-preserved conser-vation. Negative structures and beaten-earth floors have also been recovered. The sediment extracted has a large clay com-ponent, probably corresponding to the composition of sedi-ment that has been deposited to facilitate the growth of plants or to mud-brick erosion.

Archaeological work in sector 1 started with an external floor layer, with painted Halaf pottery, which sealed the lower sequence. A storage pit was located in the south part of this trench (st. 2018/1) and two different areas were identified: locus 1 and 3. Locus 2.1 contained some ceramic material, especially coarse ware and some painted ware, and also mostly burned animal bones. A little lower in this stratum, at a depth of about 10-12 cm, a series of dark concentrations and charcoal appeared, as well as some isolated stones and some mudbricks, indicating the presence of domestic type architecture (fig. 4a).

A new space was defined and named as locus 3. There was a layer with a charcoal concentration on the south-west side of the square (L.3.1), filled with a possible drain on the south-east side of the square (L.3.2), a pit (2018/2) and an external layer (L.3.3).

Fig. 3 – General view of the site (above) and satellite view with 2018 soundings location (below; photos Grampo, UAB).



The presence of some stones suggested a possible NW-SE oriented wall related to an orange platform, with mud-bricks (L.5) that is limited by the wall to the north.

In this space, a cylindrical structure (2018/3) was delim-ited by a red circle on the ground. Brown layers almost 50 cm deep fill this oval-shaped structure and some stones begin to appear. It is a pit about 40 or 45 cm in diameter, slightly oval in the mouth and with a total depth of 0.62 m. It seems to have been made by digging into the ground until the desired depth was reached. Then pieces of damp clay were fixed all around its walls. These were joined together by smoothing and merging them with the hands, which left a series of parallel fluting over the inner surface. The start of the base is pre-served in the bottom, and this would probably have been flat. Four carefully-placed flat stones form a platform there. This structure, of a type that was previously unknown in the Halaf culture, is exceptionally well preserved.

At an early time, or possibly also at the time of use, this constructed pit underwent a fire baking process that gave greater consistency to the lining of the reddish walls, forming a variable thickness of between 3 and 6 cm. The application of the clay plates with hands, forming parallel grooves, and the bottom of the pit with well-arranged flat stones were identified.

Two more loci were identified in this phase. First, L.7.1 is a layer with very organic and plastic layers and is delimited by a NW-SE wall still without a direction number formed by three stones and mudbricks and another line of rocks to the north. Locus 8.1 is the space between this last possible transversal wall and the northern section filled with charcoal, some mud-brick erosion and other organic materials.

Sector 2 sounding was opened in the south of the garden, on the slope towards the wadi. The surface layer is related to agricultural activities and some grape vines growing not far from the square. Perhaps the area coincides with a point of drainage of the slope or with the natural or artificial proximity to a water point. A change of texture of the sediment allowed the determination of two main phases: L.1 related to slope for-mation and tell erosion and the second one related to the open area L.4 and L.9.

Close to a surface layer (L.4.1) of about 24 cm depth, a fur-ther three layers with small stones and clay soil with faunal remains were revealed. In 4.2 several medium-size stones were recovered. These have a certain circular arrangement with a crapaudine in one of them.

Layer L.4.2 became more brownish, which could be asso-ciated with more organic material including remains of char-coal and other materials and some ceramic fragments. It could also be part of a structure although it is not obvious. This

stratigraphy was related to an orange level (L.4.6), possible disintegrated constructive material or mud-brick. It was defined by its compaction, plasticity and presence of small disintegrated calcareous nodules; some stones and few ceramic materials are evident. It does not appear to be a clear structure but seems to indicate the presence of a nearby building or structure (fig. 4b).

The sequence in sector 3 consists of two phases, both related to burned layers in an external area where domestic activities were carried out. The sequence starts with a surface layer, about 40 cm from surface level 1.1, with a large concen-tration of charcoal remains. On the northeast side, this layer coexists with a small accumulation of ceramic material. A second layer 6.2 is also related to another charcoal level indi-cating the presence of a nearby fire activity area.

The presence of a compact level with Halaf pottery was noted. It has some lime nodules and was related to an external floor or circulation level. A constructed pit 2018/4 is found in this open area. It is a round structure, built with burned mud-bricks or built with mudbricks and burned by the later use of the structure, shaped in a semicircular form (fig. 5).

Three soundings recovered archaeological stratigraphy related to Late Neolithic pottery. The presence of eroded mud-bricks and stonewalls indicates the presence of a domestic area. Compact floors and other structures, mainly constructed pits and silos, seem to indicate intensive activity related to domestic storage activities. These are small structures, with a capacity of about 20 kg of maximum storage that presents a trapezoid mor-phology and a plaster with clay, which facilitates its isolation.

Fig. 4 – a. Sector 1, general view from south with main domestic units recovered; b. Sector 2, general view from north with L.4 (photos Grampo, UAB).



DATING

Radiometric data has narrowed down the life of the settle-ment at Banahilk. The Autonomous University of Barcelona project has started a radiometric program and new data will be presented here. As is well-known, three samples were dated during Watson’s work, all of them published in Radiocarbon (Lawn 1973; Protsch and Berger 1973; Watson 1983a). At that time, it was possible to date the site in the mid-6th millennium. These samples were taken in trenches DI and DII. In the first sounding, two charcoal samples came from a fireplace (feature 1), while the third one was charcoal from a Halaf layer. The sample from DII layer was the most recent, with a period of 5471 to 5200 cal. BC (81.7% proba-bility) and 5177 to 5064 cal. BC (13.7% probability). However, it must be remembered that it is an old date with a deviation larger than 50 and therefore subject to review in future works.

This date is mentioned here although it is not considered trustworthy given the entity of the level. Nonetheless, it should be noted that P.J. Watson’s sector D is not far from the 2018 soundings.

As can be observed in the table 1, radiometric data, cali-brated with Oxcal 4.3, are more recent than those recovered in P.J. Watson’s sector DI (fig. 6). Charred barley seeds were sampled. One was from sector 3, L.6.4 (B511814), calibrated with 95.4% probability to 5525-5460 cal. BC (61.0%) and 5451-5376 cal. BC (34.4%). The other one came from sector 1,

pit 2018/3 (B511813) calibrated with 95.4% probability to 5559-5473 cal. BC. Both dates are important since the sam-ples were taken at the deepest point in each sounding (2018 fieldwork) and they indicate a settlement life that was more prolonged in time and space but with an extensive occupation at the end of the Halaf period (fig. 6). The possibility of dating a sealed structure and a circulation level reduces the overall chronology. This means that a narrow chronology between 5559 and 5367 cal. BC can be proposed.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS: THE HALAF ASSEMBLAGE

CERAMICS AND STONEWARE

Pottery comprises one of the major archaeological assemblages recovered at the site. In three sectors, the main categories in plain ware and coarse ware were related to Late Neolithic contexts during the Halaf culture. From a technological point of view, pottery production is well known across the sequence. The main production is made in coarse ware but painted pottery is one of the well-known categories. The coarse clays have mineral and vegetal inclu-sions and different surface treatments. Series such as plain, burnished coarse ware is well attested. Simple coarse ware and the burnished coarse ware were sometimes also pro-vided with impressed motifs. Nevertheless, one of the most remarkable features is the shapes of medium-size vessels. (fig. 7). Open bowls (fig. 7.7), simple unrestricted bowls (fig. 7.16-17) and closed bowls (fig. 7.13, 15) are well-attested with a carinated bowl (fig. 7.2), jar (fig. 8.1,3,6, 14) and few handles (fig. 7.8, 10).

Fig. 5 – Sector 3, with an external floor and a constructed silo (2018/4; photo Grampo, UAB).

Fig. 6 – Radiometric data recovered at Banahilk (CAD Grampo, UAB).



Fine ware and finely painted ware are also present. This assemblage offers a repertoire where small and medium-sized recipients for domestic consumption predominate (fig. 8). Decorative motifs present variations with a predominance of geometric and some floral motifs. The presence of painted dishes (fig. 8.2, 13, 21) and a jar (fig. 8.15) are relevant and can be interpreted as an influence of the Khabour sets. Polychrome painted motifs on pale slips are scare. However, in that sense, the most remarkable aspect is the preservation, size and shapes identified. Mainly jars (fig. 8.17-18), plates (fig. 8.1-2, 13, 19), concave sided bowls (fig. 8.4, 6, 9, 16), open bowls (fig. 8.3, 5, 7-8) and closed bowls or holemouth vessels (fig. 8.10-11, 14) have been recovered in all sectors. A cream bowl fragment was also recovered in sector 1 (fig. 8.12). In general, these recipients correspond to small to medi-um-size vessels. Those categories are usually considered more sumptuous from a technological point of view with spe-cific uses in a trade or consumption context.

It should be noted that the entire pottery set fits perfectly with the ceramic productions assigned at the end of the period. At some point after Middle Halaf pottery style had become established (plates, open and closed bowls and unrestricted bowl with incurving sides are predominant). Contemporary Banahilk sequences have been identified at Chagar Bazar, Arpachiyah or Yarim Tepe II albeit with an unequal represen-tation based on percentages and surface excavated. In these assemblages, the influx of Ubaid ceramic traits are quite rare and identify regional trade has been done through the circula-tion of the idea, the pattern decoration or the product (LeBlanc and Watson 1973; Spataro and Fletcher 2010).

Pottery tokens or discs are also present in all sectors (fig. 8.23-27). A pendant made from a retouched and polished pottery sherd does not seem to be completely finished (fig. 8.28). The presence of three white stoneware bowls is quite remarkable (fig. 8.29-31). All of them were recovered in sector 1.

LITHIC ARTEFACTS

A total of 28 lithic artefacts were found: three (11%) in sector 1, eighteen (64%) in sector 2 and seven (25%) in sector 3. Of these, fifteen (54%) tools are in obsidian1, eleven (39%) in flint and one is a calcareous stone (4%).

In sector 1, the presence of a fragment of obsidian flake and a pointed flint blade with marginal retouching at its ends is noteworthy. In contrast, sector 2 is much richer and yielded a calcareous stone with indications of thermal alteration: six (21%) flakes or flint chipped stones were recovered as well as ten (36%) fragments of obsidian including six (21%) flakes; one of them retouched abruptly creating a front. Two blades (7%) have been recovered, one of which is retouched on its distal and left side forming a possible burin tool, and other two (7%) are unretouched bladelets.

Finally, in sector 3, four (14%) obsidian pieces, two flakes and two blades, were documented, one of them retouched bilaterally, possibly forming a fragment of a large blade and the other (4%) a blade with marginal retouch.

BOTANICAL REMAINS

All samples for botanical examination were taken from the Halaf levels. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the present data only relied on secured archaeological contexts, from soundings 1 and 3 in a close contemporaneity.

In total, 17 bulk soil samples were collected from external and interior layer occupations and pits and processed in a flo-tation machine. All remains were preserved by charring, except some Boraginaceae taxa that were mineralised. In

1. Obsidian samples are undergoing XRF and LA-ICP-MS analyses at IRAMAT-CRP2A, UMR 5060 (CNRS, Université Bordeaux Montaigne) under the supervision of F.-X. Le Bourdonnec.

Site Stratigr. Ref. Conventional age Calibr. 1 sigma 68% Material Calibr. 95,4% probability References

BanahilkHalaf level at 1,3 m down, sector DII

P-1501 6309±79 BP 5280±100 Charcoal5471-5200 cal. BC (81,7%), 5177-5067 cal. BC (13,7%),

Radiocarbon 15, 1973: 373. Lawn 1973

Banahilk Floor 6, feature 1, sector DI P-1502 6752±85 BP 5560±70 Charcoal5834-5826 cal. BC (0,5%), 5811-5514 cal. BC (94,9%)

Radiocarbon 15, 1973: 373. Lawn 1973

Banahilk Floor 6, feature 1, sector DI P-1503 6854±72 BP 5760±80 Charcoal 5892-5629 cal.BC (95,4%)Radiocarbon 15, 1973: 373. Lawn 1973

Banahilk Sector 3, layer 6.4 B511814 6550±30 BP – Charred seed 5559-5473 cal. BC (95,4%) Unpublished

Banahilk Sector 1, layer 1, 2018/3 B511813 6500±30 BP – Charred seed5525-5460 cal. BC (61,0%), 5451-5376 cal. BC (34,4%)

Unpublished

Table 1 – Table with radiometric data summarized (Grampo, UAB).



Fig. 7 – Plain and coarse ware pottery sets (CAD Grampo, UAB).



Fig. 8 – 1-22. Painted ware recovered at site; 23-27. Tokens and discs in ceramics; 28. Pendant in ceramics; 29-32. Stoneware bowls (photos and CAD Grampo, UAB).



general, the identification of plant remains was arbitrary because of their poor preservation. Many grains were frag-mented, corroded or deformed. This can be the result of the low depth (ca. 25 cm) of the archaeological features.

Among the cereals, glume wheat (Triticum dicoccum, T. dicoccum/monococcum) and free-threshing wheat (T. aestivum/durum) are represented. Surprisingly, no barley grain (Hordeum vulgare) has been recovered but this might be due to the poor state of preservation. It should be mentioned that a large proportion of Cerealia ssp. grains (fragments) have been encountered. Similarly, pulses are almost absent from the botanical assemblage (fig. 9)

Samples from Banahilk also provided a large quantity of wild/weed taxa. The two main families are the small grasses and the small legumes. The former are represented by taxa such as Aegilops sp. (florets), Bromus type and Panicum type (grains). The latter are mostly represented by Melilotus sp. and Trifolium sp.

Further analysis will be necessary to determine if the little presence of barley is effective or if it is a bias due to the small number of samples collected during the first archaeological season. At other Halaf sites such as Tell Sabi Abyad (Syria) and Domuztepe (Turkey), barley (two- and six-row barley) has been recorded (Van Zeist and Bakker-Heeres 1982; Whitcher

et al. 2009; Cappers 2014). At Domuztepe, glume wheat (emmer and einkorn wheat) dominate the assemblage and barley is present but in lower quantities.

FAUNAL REMAINS

The preliminary analysis of the faunal assemblage at Banahilk shows a mainly domestic composition: Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Sus domesticus and Bos taurus are well attested. In some cases, information about their age of death could be recovered, evidencing the presence of immature and juvenile specimens of Sus domesticus, Ovis aries and Capra hircus as well as two quite old sheep and goat (more than 6 years). At the same time, the pigs documented in this sample appear to be rather small in size.

Regarding wild species, a few remains of unidentified cervids are present. While there are previous reportsof the presence of roe and red deer at the site (Reed 1960; Laffer 1983), these remains did not allow more specific identifica-tion. At the same time, such wild fauna as Vulpes vulpes, Felis pardus, Canis, Erinaceus, Ursus arctos, birds and fish, which were previously documented in the site, are not present in this assemblage.

The results appear to be quite consistent with the results provided by J. Laffer (1983) on the analysis of the faunal assem-blage from the previous North American excavations and pos-terior revisions of K. Bishop (Lemoine et al. 2014) and M. Price (2016) on concrete aspects of pig husbandry, although a more detailed study would be necessary for proper comparisons.

The presence of five bone tools in this assemblage is worth noting (fig. 10). There are four needles, three of them made on Ovis or Capra tibia (fig. 10.1-2, 4); one pre-formed needle on a Capra metatarsal (fig. 10.5) and finally a denticulate prepared on a diaphyseal fragment of a big mammal (fig. 10.3). They all dis-play evidence of being used with use-wear traces. Microwear polish and striations possibly indicate two or more use episodes.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Banahilk has been one of the most important Halaf sites in the Upper Zagros in the literature ever since the Braidwoods’ research. The previous work and the site’s geographic position, on the eastern limits of the Halafian world were crucial for researchers to understand Halaf boundaries, networks and exchange. One of the Halaf's culture characteristics is its

Fig. 9 – a. Fragments of Cerealia spp. broken before charring; b. Triticum spelta grain; c. Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum grain; d. Triticum aegilops glume base; e. Dinebra retroflexa type grain, f. Trifolium cf. seed; g. Silene type seed (photos and CAD SAPPO/UAB).



strength of its expansion (perhaps related to the search for new territories, perhaps linked to segmentation practices) and manifestly, that's what happens here, in the Soran area. Different authors suggested that Banahilk is a margin site, such as Masaïkh, in the Euphrathes valley, or el Kowm, Palmyra desert, or Tell A-Baharia, not far from Damscus. These farmer and herder communities seem to embark on territorial expansion on land that is not the usual territory of them. They seem prosperous, so have adapted to this new environment with success.

The fieldwork in the 2018 season, focused on three sound-ings, revealed important remains of stone and earthen archi-tecture related to rectangular buildings constructed with mudbricks, stones or mixed techniques. Open areas and built structures such as pits or containers have been documented. The work in sectors 1 and 3 provides more information about the settlement pattern at the site and architecture preservation. Sector 2 revealed settlement remains in the middle slope area of the mound (northern part). The recovered material: bones, charcoal, and pottery, among other remains, enable an approach to Halafian strategies in technological knowledge and subsistence activities.

In this context, Banahilk seems to be a small site with short-term occupations dated at the end of the Halaf period but with the whole Halaf assemblage well incorporated. Great variability in settlement pattern and cultural material indicates strong exogenous influences. Should be considered that Halaf sites principally involved in regional pottery trading could be also local pottery production centre, so new styles could quickly reach all the sites within a region by the process or secondary diffusion.

The site, well-documented on the top of the Matar mound, responds to a farming village where livestock was kept. However, it has the peculiarity of possessing several types of silo structures, an unusual phenomenon at that time.

Rich inventories have been recovered at the site, including pottery (coarse, plain and painted), stone vessels (four frag-ments), flint and obsidian implements, grinding-stone tools and one pendant or possible personal ornament. In that sense, the material culture exhibits great uniformity through domestic units and sequences, which can be proposed as evidence of strong cultural identity, quite different from the other main Halafian areas, such as the proximate settlements in the Upper Tigris Valley or in the Sulaymaniyah region.

Research must aim to compare this archaeological assem-blage with the neighbouring sites, especially well-known in Mesopotamia (Obeid 2-Hajji Mohammed) and the Zagros area (Khazineh culture and culture of Dalma Tepe), including assemblages of materials that have not yet been detected in the work carried out at the site.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Banahilk fieldworks have been developed thanks to the support of the General Directorate of Antiquities of Kurdistan and, more precisely, the General Director of Antiquities of Kurdistan, A.O. Zendin (Mala Awat) and K. Ali, and the General Directorate

Fig. 10 – Bone tools recovered at site (photos SAPPO/UAB).



of Antiquities of Soran region, in the person of A. Sulaiman. This project would not take place without the help of other members of the General Antiquities of Soran, especially to D.A. Mustafat. This research is being developed with the cooperation Salahaddin University (Erbil) with the College of Arts its director Z. Bradosty and, the Archaeological Department with its director A. Zebari. Specially thanks to A. Halil, T. Abubakir and H. Salahaddin, members of the Department of Archaeology from Salahaddin University.

This research also received funding from the I+D project: HARD 2016-7816-P. Procesos de transferencia e interacción social en el Neolítico del Próximo Oriente: Estudio de los ámbitos del valle del Éufrates y altiplanos del Zagros. IP: M. Molist. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia; and the project: HAR2013-43624. From Zagros to Taurus Neolithisation process difficulties in Northern Mesopotamia. Furthermore, the Catalan Government also supports this research with funding: 2017SGR1302 Grup de Recerca Arqueològica a la Mediterràniai al Pròxim Orient (GRAMPO) IP: M. Molist.

Anna GÓMEZ-BACH

Walter CRUELLS Roger ALCÁNTARA

Maria SAÑA

Miquel MOLIST

Prehistory Department, SAPPO/GRAMPO Autonomous University of Barcelona

Campus Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona – [email protected]

[email protected]@gmail.com

[email protected]@uab.cat

Carolyne DOUCHÉ

Museum national d’Histoire naturelle 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris – FRANCE

[email protected]

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