Wool, Writing, and Religion

The village of this level, level VIB2, is considered a devolution of the urban heights reached in preceding phases of the site, especially, in terms of population density, that of level VII, dating to the early to mid-fourth millennium, while the so-called Palatial Period, level VIA, dating to the late fourth millennium, is claimed as the apex of sociopolitical complexity. It was in this latter period that Arslantepe was clearly in contact with southern Mesopotamia in some way. Level VIA was destroyed by fire and replaced by an ephemeral campsite (level VIBl) considered characteristic of Transcaucasian mobile pastoralists 

3800-3500 VII Most extensive occupation, contains elite building and ceremonial building 

3500-3000 VIA Palatial period, with Temples A, B, and residential shrine  

3000-2900 VIBl Two phases of wattle and daub structures, postholes, and possibly the royal tomb (my scheme) 

2900-2800 VIB2a Fortified hilltop Construction of royal tomb (Frangipane s scheme) 

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