The Early Bronze Age occupations at Gird Lashkir (Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan): New data on the third millennium BCE in Northern Mesopotamia

This paper presents new archaeological data from the site of Gird Lashkir (Erbil Plain, Iraqi Kurdistan), contributing to ongoing debates concerning the character and development of Early Bronze Age societies in northern Mesopotamia. Excavations conducted over ten seasons have documented a well-preserved and stratified sequence comprising seven occupation phases attributed to the Ninevite 5 horizon (ca. 3000–2500 BCE). This sequence provides a rare opportunity to analyse long-term settlement dynamics within a single site, addressing persistent challenges related to the scarcity of radiocarbon dates and the lack of continuous stratigraphic records in the Upper Tigris region. The study integrates architectural, stratigraphic, radiocarbon and mortuary data in order to refine the internal chronology of the site and situate it within broader regional frameworks. The results reveal a constant reorganisation of domestic space, architectural investment, and specialised installations, reflecting evolving patterns of household and community organisation. Mortuary evidence further indicates structured funerary practices and emerging social differentiation, while the presence of sealing practices points to the integration of administrative behaviours within economic activities. Taken together, the evidence highlights the role of small settlements as active participants in broader socio-economic networks rather than peripheral rural units. The data also highlight the variability of the Ninevite 5 horizon, supporting its interpretation as a flexible and regionally articulated cultural framework. By providing securely dated and contextually integrated evidence, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of social organisation, economic practices, and settlement development in northern Mesopotamia during the third millennium BCE.