New discoveries concerning the relationship between the upper Tigris region and Syro-Cilicia in the Late Neolithic

Until recently, few excavations had been undertaken in the upper Tigris region. Çayönü was the only site from the Pottery Neolithic period that had been thoroughly investigated. Since 1998, excavations have taken place at a number of sites within the area due to be flooded by the construction of the Ilisu dam. One of these sites, Hakemi Use, is the only settlement from the Hassuna and Samarran periods that has been excavated in this region. A large group of Syro-Cilician sherds, showing close relations to both regions in the sixth millennium BC, was found.