Draft:Qarachatan

Qarachatan قەرەچەتان
Village
Qarachatan Qarachatan
Coordinates: 35°44′40.74″N 45°11′41.92″E
Country	Iraq
Autonomous region	Kurdistan Region
Governorate	Sulaymaniyah Governorate
District	Dokan District
Elevation	882 m (2,895 ft)
Population
• Estimate  (2020)	115
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)

Qarachatan (Kurdish: قەرەچەتان) is a Kurdish village at the foot of Mt. Piramagrun in Sulaymaniyah Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Qarachatan is renowned for its archaeological significance, particularly the Rabana-Merquly site, a major regional center of the Parthian era in the central Zagros highlands. Located on the western flank of Mount Piramagrun, the Parthian-era complex at Rabana-Merquly consists of twin settlements, one in the Rabana valley and the other on the Merquly plateau, connected by an extensive network of perimeter fortifications.

Rabana-Merquly was a major regional centre of the Parthian period. The iconography of two rock-reliefs that show an unnamed ruler suggests an association with the vassal kingdom of Adiabene. The exceptional preservation of the fortress's stone walls, undamaged by later agriculture in this highland location, provides an almost complete example of a large, fortified site with two main intramural settlements. Through its ability to control the surrounding landscape, Rabana-Merquly highlights the role of client states on the peripheries of the Parthian and Roman Empire and illuminates the practicalities of territorial control by state authorities in hinterland regions. This is evidenced by extensive architectural modifications around an ephemeral waterfall and the nearby construction of a probable fire altar. Two jar burials excavated in 2022 within an adjacent building suggest that the complex also functioned as a mausoleum. Carbon-14 dating of these cremation deposits supports occupation of the site during the second to first centuries B.C. Twin rock reliefs at the entrances to Rabana-Merquly indicate that the fortress was likely associated with the ruling dynasty of Adiabene, a vassal kingdom of the Parthian Empire in northeastern Mesopotamia. A further link to Natounissarokerta/Natounia on the Kapros is suggested by the iconography of that city's coinage, which features an obverse image of a goddess, potentially a hybrid representation of Anahita-Tyche.

One of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Qarachatan is the Stela of Iddi-Sin, King of Simurrum. Dating back to the Old-Babylonian Period, the Stela is currently on display at the Sulaymaniyah Museum.

Notable individuals from Qarachatan include Karim Sharif Qarachatani, a psychologist, television personality, and author renowned for hosting talk shows. Karzan Kardozi, a filmmaker best known for the film Where Is Gilgamesh?, is another prominent figure from the region.

As of 2020, the population of Qarachatan is estmated to be around 155 resident.

Gallery

• 
  Stela of Iddi-Sin, King of Simurrum, Old-Babylonian Period
• 
  The rock-relief at Rabana-Merquly
• 
  The sites of Rabana-Merquly near Qarachatan village
• 
  Position of he rock-relief at Rabana-Merquly
• 
  The rock-relief at Rabana-Merquly
• 
  Detail of the rock-relief at Rabana-Merquly
• 
  Piramagrun Mountain overlooking Qarachatan Village

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Sulaymaniyah
• Populated places in Sulaymaniyah Province
• Kurdish settlements in Iraq
• 6th-millennium BC establishments
• Populated places established in the 6th millennium BC