early sites become nearly invisible, buried beneath the unsurveyed sediments along the
Shatt al-Gharraf. What few are recorded suggest that this delta-following settlement
process, with concomitant consolidation of urban centers behind the advancing band
of smaller settlements, continues forward (Figure 1. 4 d). The advancing sediment lobe
was bounded by what would in Old Babylonian times become a canal, following a
sweeping arc from Bad Tibira to Larsa (Steinkeller 2001 ). At this earlier time, it would
have facilitated boat traffic passing from settlement to settlement across the edge of the
marshy zone. Later, once the climate dried, the sea level dropped, and the delta pro-
truded further into the estuary zone, waterways extending southeastward maintained
connections back to the urban core. As smaller settlements shifted southeastward, out
–– Physical geography ––ES 156TurabaES 156Albu TanamFigure 1.6(continued)(b) ES 156 in the Eridu Basin. (c) Abu Dakar in the al-Khuraib (Tigris)
marshes south of Amara. Water overtops banks and leaks through weak levees, eventually
rejoining the fluvial system (arrows). (d) Desiccated water channels (white) infilled with dry
sand skirt EP 156. (e) Dendritic water channels (black) through reed beds skirt Abu Tanam.
CORONA May 1968.