Tell el-'Oueili

Tell el-'Oueili (also Tell el-‘Uwaili and Awayli); is an archaeological site in the ancient Near East, located in Dhi Qar Governorate, southern Iraq. It is located 3.5 kilometers southeast of the ancient site of Larsa. The site was excavated between 1976 and 1989 by French archaeologists under the direction of Jean-Louis Huot.

The excavations have revealed occupation layers predating those of Eridu, making Tell el-'Oueili the earliest known Ubaid settlement in Lower Mesopotamia. Older sites possibly exist, being buried under alluvium and submerged due to the movement of the Persian Gulf.

As such, Tell el-'Oueili remains notable as the culture of this particular settlement came to eclipse other in light of the northward Ubaid expansion. Later, the Ubaid would evolve into the Uruk period, which introduced proto-writing and the state concept.

History of research The site was first noted and surveyed by French scholar André Parrot, who at the time was working at nearby Larsa. Two small excavation seasons took place in 1976 and 1978, and regular excavations commenced in 1981. Huot, J.-L. et al., "Tell el-'Oueilli: The works of 1978 and 1981.", Sumer, vol. 39, no. 1-2, pp. 18-67, 1983 Four more seasons took place in every uneven year until 1989. Forest, J.D.. "Tell el-'Oueili preliminary report on the 4th season (1983): Stratigraphy and architecture'.", Sumer, vol. 44, no. 1–2, pp. 55–66, 1985-1986 Breniquet, Catherine, "Tell el-'Oueili 1983: The Small Finds", Sumer, vol. 44, pp. 109-11, 1985-1986 All excavations were directed by French archaeologist Jean-Louis Huot.

After a long hiatus archaeological work has resumed at the site with excavations in 2019, 2021, and 2023.Baldi, Johnny, Regis Vallet, and Claire Padovani, "Tell el-‘Uwaili (Dhi Qar province): Preliminary Report on the 2019 fieldwork seasons", Sumer-Journal of Archaeology of Mesopotamia, 66, pp. 11-40, 2020Baldi, J. S., E. Baudoin, and M. M. Mnather, "XI–Tell el ‘Uwaili 2021: Architecture and Stratigraphy", Larsa-‘Uwaili Annual Report 2021-2022. Preliminary Report on the Results of the XVIth & XVIIth Campaigns at Larsa and the Xth Campaign at Tell el ‘Uwaili, pp. 152-160, 2022 Baldi, Johnny, Emmanuel Baudouin, and Regis Vallet. "At the origins of the Ubaid world: Recent insights from Tell el-'Uwaili (southern Iraq)", Proceedings of the 13th ICAANE, 2025* Vallet, Regis, et al., "Preliminary Report on the VIIIth And IXth Campaigns at Tell el-‘Uwaili", Sumer-Journal of Archaeology of Mesopotamia, 66, pp. 133-176, 2020

At the eastern mound where Uruk period remains had earlier been noted, a number of beveled rim bowls were found.Claire Padovani, "The Ubaid 4-Early Uruk transition: Preliminary results of the 2025 field season at Uwaili, Southern Iraq", BANEA 2026, Apr 2026, Londres, United Kingdom, 2026

Tell el-'Oueili and its environment The site measures in diameter and is approximately high. The environment of 'Oueili is characterized by temperatures that can reach more than 50 °C (122 °F) in summer and less than 250 mm of annual rainfall, making the area unsuitable for rainfed agriculture.

Occupation history Tell el-'Oueili was occupied during the Ubaid period. Lebeau, M., "A First Report on pre-Eridu Pottery from Tell El Oueili", Sumer, vol. 44, pp. 88-108, 1985 The excavations have revealed occupation layers dating from Ubaid 0 (6500-5400 BCE) to Ubaid 4. The phase Ubaid 0 was first discovered at this site and was hence provisionally termed 'Oueili-phase. A surface survey showed that the site was occupied into the Uruk Period. J. L. Huot, "Tell el Oueili : surface exploration", Sumer, vol. 27, no. 1-2, pp. 45-58, 1971

Tell el-'Oueili

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