around 3500 BC. This may be the evidence of the earliest urban warfare attested so far in the archaeological record of the Near East. Slings and thousands of clay bullets have been found, indicating a siege, along with widespread signs of destruction. The force responsible for the destruction is uncertain though the city may have fallen victim to the Uruk expansion from the south as the next occupation layer is of the Uruk civilization. Contained excavations in 2008 and 2010 tried to expand on that. See also Cities of the Ancient Near East Notes Further reading Baldi, Johnny Samuele, and Khaled Abu Jayyab, "A comparison of the ceramic assemblages from Tell Feres al-Sharqi and Hamoukar", Publications de l'Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes 27.1, pp. 163-180, 2012 Reichel, Clemens., "Administrative complexity in Syria during the 4th millennium BC: The seals and sealings from Tell Hamoukar.", Akkadica 123.1, pp. 35-56, 2002 M. Gibson, et al., Hamoukar: A summary of Three Seasons of Excavation, Akkadica, vol. 123 (fasc. 1), pp. 11–34, 2002 Jason A. Ur, Tell Hamoukar, Volume 1. Urbanism and Cultural Landscapes in Northeastern Syria: The Tell Hamoukar Survey, 1999–2001., Oriental Institute Publication 137, Oriental Institute, 2011, (Associated Maps 1 2 3 ) T. J. Wilkinson, Physical and cultural landscapes of the Hamoukar area, (Syria), Akkadica, vol. 123 (fasc. 1), pp. 89–105, 2002 External links Hamoukar Project Homepage at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Video on Hamoukar Expedition at the University of Chicago website "In the Ruins: Tell Hamoukar", New York Times Science Video (January 16, 2007). "New details of first major urban battle emerge along with clues about civilization's origins", press release by University of Chicago News Office (January 16, 2007). "University of Chicago-Syrian team finds first evidence of warfare in ancient Mesopotamia", press release by University of Chicago News Office (December 16, 2005). "Ruins in Northern Syria Bear the Scars of a City's Final Battle" by John Wilford, New York Times (January 16, 2007) Populated places established in the 5th millennium BC Populated places disestablished in the 4th millennium BC 1999 archaeological discoveries Archaeological sites in al-Hasakah Governorate Former populated places in Syria Uruk period Obsidian Ubaid period City-states