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SITE ID - NAME :	U4	Uruk
ANCIENT NAME :	Uruk, Eanna, Kullab
OTHER NAME :	Warka
LOCATION :	South Iraq, Diwaniya
CHRONOLOGY :	Chalcolithic; Protoliterate; Early Historic; Late Historic
PERIOD CODE :	7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
DESCRIPTION :	This famous South Mesopotamian site was most important during the Late Uruk to Early Dynastic times (i.e. the Sumerian period), when it grew to cover about 400 ha, and was a major political centre. In Sumerian literature it is associated with the name of Gilgamesh, one of the Early Dynastic rulers credited today with having been an actual historical character. Archaeological explorations have concentrated on two temple precincts, the Eanna precinct and the Anu ziggurat (= temple tower). These areas gave evidence of impressive monumental architecture, e.g. ziggurats, and various temples, among which White Temple and the Pillar Hall. Furthermore, among other things, the palace of Sinkasid (early 2nd millennium), the Karraindash temple (Kassite period), and the Gareus (Parthian) have been investigated. An especially famous find is a superbly carved and extremely lifelike head of a women made from white marble, found in the Eanna precinct and dating to the Ur III period. Moreover, from the Eanna precinct alone at least 10,000 clay tablets have been recovered.
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