Tell Maghzaliyah

Tell Maghzaliyah, located in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, is a significant prehistoric site showcasing the transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic cultures around 7000 BCE. Spanning approximately 4500 square meters, the site features evidence of a fortified village with defensive walls, semi-permanent habitation structures, and early metallurgy using native copper. The settlement's architectural remains reveal houses with pisé walls and stone foundations, indicating a shift towards more permanent structures. The site also displays cultural connections to the Jarmo culture and the development of pre-Hassuna cultural elements. Excavated by a Soviet team between 1969 and 1980, Tell Maghzaliyah provides critical insights into early human settlement patterns, including evidence of hunting and gathering, and the beginnings of metal use in the region.