The oldest(?) Fortifications

A sondage on the slope in Area G reached the oldest level so far explored at Aushariye, Level XI. It dates to the transitional period between the Early and Middle Bronze Ages (ca. 2100-2000 BC). In the sondage was a section of an enceinte and an exterior surface connected with it.

The enceinte of Level XI in background, covered by stone terracing of Level VIII. In foreground floor surface of clay laid directly on bedrock.

Cut into the cliff was a sack-shaped cistern for water storage, covered with the original stone lid. Next to the cistern was a small circular depression in the cliff used as base for a jar.

When the stone lid was removed and the cistern emptied it proved to contain a few stones, loose earth, and many pot sherds. A good deal of the sherds belong to the same medium-sized jar, which may origianlly have stood in the depression next to the cistern.

It would seem that occupation of Level XI ended fairly abruptly, and that items like the jar were left in place. Subsequently the floor surface was cleared and the smashed jar was thrown into the cistern with some debris, and the cistern closed, which helped to create a firm surface for the next level.

It is uncertain whether level XI is the oldest occupation at Aushariye. On surface and in later fills isolated Halaf(?) period and Chalcolithic (4th mill. BC) sherds have been found, but so far no certain traces of earlier 3rd mill. occupation.