Gawr Tepe is a large multi-phase archaeological settlement located on the Khanî Masî Plain in the Upper Diyala (Sirwan) Valley, approximately 8 km south of Kalar, within the Khanaqeen District of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Covering an area of approximately 5 km², the site consists of two principal mounds, Gawr Tepe A and Gawr Tepe B, together with numerous smaller mounds that form part of a broader urban and cultural landscape.
As one of the most significant archaeological landmarks in the Garmian region, Gawr Tepe occupied a strategic position along routes linking Mesopotamia with the Iranian Plateau. The site is particularly notable for the remains of a monumental Sasanian palace constructed on a massive rectangular terrace and featuring vaulted corridors, plastered floors, and elaborately decorated stucco panels.
Archaeological investigations have revealed continuous occupation at least from the Late-Sasanian period (6th–7th century CE), followed by reuse during the Early and Middle Islamic periods (8th–13th century CE), and a later phase of reoccupation that may date to the Ottoman era. Despite its importance, the site suffered extensive spoliation and damage during the twentieth century.
Material evidence recovered from the site includes architectural stucco decorations, locally produced and imported ceramics linked to exchange networks across Iraq and the Iranian Plateau, stamped Sasanian pottery, a sixth-century Byzantine follis, and an Ottoman clay pipe. Together, these finds illustrate the site’s long-term occupation, regional significance, and participation in wider economic and cultural networks over more than a millennium.
