Laboratoire Archéorient
Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée
7, rue Raulin, F-69365 Lyon cedex 07
E-mail : elena.de-rosa@univ-lyon2.fr
- Jwana CHAHOUD, Université Lumière Lyon 2, UMR 5133 Archéorient
- Luca Peyronel, Université de Milan
Investigating the Organization of the Built Environment during the 5th and 4th Millennia B.C. in the Erbil Plain: A Micro-Morphological Analysis of Activity Areas at the Late Chalcolithic Village of Helawa
Enquête sur l'organisation de l'environnement bâti aux Ve et IVe millénaires av. dans la plaine d'Erbil : une analyse micro-morphologique des zones d'activité du village de Helawa au Chalcolithique supérieur
Thesis project abstract
This doctoral project investigates the late 5th and early 4th millennium B.C. occupations at Tell Helawa in Iraqi Kurdistan, employing soil micromorphological analysis. Focused on understanding societal changes during a period of incipient urbanization, craft specialization, and emerging political hierarchies, the project aims to gain new insights on the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of ancient settlements. The study utilizes high-resolution techniques to analyze architectural spaces, emphasizing soil micromorphology for detailed examination of undisturbed soils and sediments. By correlating macroscopic and microscopic traces, the research explores how architectural landscapes were produced, used, and abandoned to better understand the daily lives and socio-political dynamics of the ancient inhabitants. The project employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining micromorphological analysis with architectural plans, material distribution, and contextual factors. The anticipated results aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the Late Chalcolithic period's social dynamics and shed light on the evolution of settlement structures, building techniques, and societal practices.