TEL Meaning and
Definition
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Tel is a noun that refers to an archaeological site or a mound of ruins that marks the location of an ancient city or settlement. Derived from the Arabic word “tell,” meaning a hill or mound, it is commonly used in the Near East and particularly in the fields of archaeology and anthropology. Tels are formed by the accumulation of layers of human habitation over centuries and often contain valuable information about past civilizations.
Tels have become prominent in the study of ancient civilizations, allowing archaeologists to uncover long-lost cities and gain insight into historical periods. Excavation of the different layers of a tel helps reconstruct the architectural, technological, cultural, and social aspects of the societies that once inhabited the area. These excavations provide valuable artifacts, such as pottery, religious objects, tools, and human remains, which contribute to our understanding of past civilizations.
Tels can vary in size, from smaller mounds to large and complex sites spanning thousands of years of human occupation. Many tels are associated with famous ancient cities, such as Jericho, Troy, and Ur. They often contain remnants of walls, buildings, streets, and other structures, offering a glimpse into the urban planning and architectural practices of the past.
In conclusion, a tel is an archaeological site characterized by its mound-like shape resulting from the accumulation of human habitation over time. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding ancient civilizations, their material culture, and their historical development.
Top Common Misspellings for TEL *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for TEL
Etymology of TEL
The word "tel" has multiple etymological origins depending on the context and language. Here are a few:1. In English, the term "tel" derives from the Hebrew word "tal" (טַל) meaning "hill" or "mound". In the field of archaeology, a "tel" refers to a site consisting of several layers of ancient settlements built on top of one another.2. In telecommunications, "tel" is derived from the Greek word "tele-" (τηλε-) meaning "far" or "distant". This prefix is used to indicate long-distance communication, as seen in words like "telephone" and "telegraph".3. In certain Indian languages, particularly Hindi and Urdu, "tel" (तेल) refers to "oil". This usage is derived from Sanskrit, where "taila" (तैल) also means "oil".
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