The Italian Archaeological Expedition in the Erbil Plain, Kurdistan Region of Iraq : Preliminary Report on the 2016-2018 Excavations at Helawa

The article is a preliminary report on the excavations conducted at Helawa by the Italian Archaeological Expedition in the Erbil Plain (MAIPE), Kurdistan Region of Iraq, during the 2016-2018 seasons. The site was surveyed in 2013 and 2015, revealing consistent occupation dating to the Late Chalcolithic period and briefer re-occupation in the mid-2nd millennium BC. Helawa is one of the largest 5th millennium sites in the Erbil Plain, probably reaching an area of 10 ha, and was abandoned at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC (early LC 3). The excavations (Step Trench B, Operations B1 and D, sounding G) established the chronological sequence, bringing to light a 5 m thick sequence of superimposed buildings and structures dating from the Ubaid to the early LC 3 period, located on the terraced southern slope of the higher mound, Middle/Late Bronze dwellings equipped with fire installations and storage facilities in Operation D, built directly over the last LC occupation at the site and an Islamic and LC 2 occupation in Operation G.