A disastrous house fire more than 6,000 years ago has given us an exceptionally good picture of village life in Ubaid times.
The village of Tell Madhhur contained about a dozen houses, each probably housing an extended family. When fire struck the large central house its occupants saved only their valuables, abandoning their everyday equipment, such as pottery and baked clay pestles.
Later the ruin was levelled and built over, preserving the remains.
The house had a large cross-shaped central room and smaller side chambers including a kitchen and a store room. A ramp led up to its flat roof.
