Jarmo, Archaeological settlement in Chamchamal, Iraq
Jarmo is an archaeological settlement in Chamchamal, Iraq, located at an altitude of 800 meters amid pistachio and oak forests. The remains extend over roughly 16,000 square meters and include foundations of about 25 dwellings along with tools and storage vessels from the Neolithic period.
Archaeologist Robert Braidwood discovered this settlement in 1948 and dated it back to roughly 7090 BCE. Later excavations showed that the village was inhabited for several centuries and documents the transition to sedentary farming communities.
Houses were built with sun-dried mud bricks on stone foundations, a technique that marked the beginning of permanent construction. Residents stored grain in fired clay vessels and developed early forms of food security for extended periods.
The site lies in a hilly forested region and requires sturdy footwear for the uneven ground. Visitors should plan enough time to explore the scattered remains and excavation areas at a comfortable pace.
Archaeologists found stone sickles and cutting tools that show how people moved from hunting to grain cultivation. These implements also prove that residents already gathered wild cereals before they began to cultivate them deliberately.
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