Qermez Dere, Archaeological site near Tal Afar, Iraq.
Qermez Dere is an archaeological site near Tall Afar that covers about 100 by 60 meters with a low mound roughly 2 meters high. It sits near the Greater Zab River and lies at the boundary between two different ecological zones.
The settlement dates from around 8500 to 7900 BC and represents an important early Neolithic site. It was discovered during rescue excavations in the 1980s.
The excavated structures show early mudbrick building methods with rounded corners, reflecting how people constructed their first permanent homes. These techniques reveal the everyday choices made by settlers who were learning to live in fixed communities.
The site lies roughly 50 kilometers west of Mosul and is best accessed as part of exploring the Tall Afar area. The river proximity can make the ground muddy and difficult to walk through during wetter seasons.
Researchers found a complete one-room semi-subterranean dwelling that differs from typical Neolithic building patterns. This structure shows that people of this time were already experimenting with different housing solutions.
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