Settlement, Mobility, and Land Use in the Birecik-Carchemish Region

This volume investigates settlement trajectories and systems of movement in the Birecik-Carchemish sector of the Euphrates River Valley for the 5th, 4th and 3rd millennium BCE. This multi-scalar study integrates remote sensing analyses, published data of individual surveys and excavations, and the original results of the Land of Carchemish Project. It shows the significant longevity of settlement choices and the role of small sites in shaping the cultural landscape of this region. Both along the Euphrates and in the uplands, settlement continuity led to the formation of mounded sites and to the emergence and consolidation of specific routes between and beyond tells as early as the Ubaid period. Occupation appears more dynamic in areas closer to the zone beyond the 200mm average rainfall per year, where rain-fed agriculture is possible, although precarious. In addition, this volume also includes a reassessment of the radiocarbon dates from sites located in the region.