Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 2023
In this study, it is aimed to make an evaluation especially the architectural traditions of the L... more In this study, it is aimed to make an evaluation especially the architectural traditions of the Late Iron Age layer discovered in Ovaören-Yassıhöyük, located within the borders of Nevşehir province, in the Cappadocia region of Central Anatolia. Excavations started in 2007 and are still continuing in the settlement, which stands out with its urban features in the Late Bronze Age and Middle Iron Age. Contrary to these periods, the data obtained from the Late Iron Age layer, which has been determined with three main architectural and sub-phases until now, shows that Ovaören turned into a rural center during the period of Persian/Achaemenid political domination. Although it is known that the settlements established in regions with fertile agricultural lands in the area show similar characteristics in terms of ceramics, architecture and small finds, the building levels found in the Late Iron Age layer of Ovaören revealed that the settlement underwent some changes during this period. In this context, the excavation data were examined in detail by comparing them with the regional centers, and the change of the architectural traditions unearthed in the Late Iron Age layer was presented chronologically.
Bu çalışmada Ordu-Kurul Kalesi'nde 2010-2021 yılları arasında yürütülen kazı çalışmalarında ele g... more Bu çalışmada Ordu-Kurul Kalesi'nde 2010-2021 yılları arasında yürütülen kazı çalışmalarında ele geçen Roma özellikli silahlar ele alınmıştır. Kurul Kalesi, Pontos Krallığı'nın en önemli kralı VI. Mithradates Eupator Dionysos (MÖ 120-63) tarafından Orta ve Doğu Karadeniz coğrafyalarında inşa ettirilmiş olan çok sayıdaki kaleden biridir. VI. Mithradates ve Roma arasında üç büyük savaş gerçekleşmiştir. Mithradates-Roma savaşları olarak bilinen bu savaşlardan sonuncusu (MÖ 74-63) büyük oranda Karadeniz coğrafyasında yaşanmıştır. Pontos coğrafyası bu son savaş sırasında önce Lucullus, sonrasında ise Pompeius'un komutasında gerçekleştirilen iki büyük Roma istilasına maruz kalmıştır. VI. Mithradates'in müstahkem kalelerine ilk darbe Lucullus'un seferi sırasında indirilmiş olsa bile asıl yıkım Pompeius'un seferi sonucunda oluşmuştur. Pompeius'un komuta ettiği Roma ordusu VI. Mithradates Eupotor Dionysos'un tüm kalelerini yıkarak onları kullanılamaz duruma getirmiştir. Kurul Kalesi bu yıkımın izlerini bünyesinde barındıran en önemli yerleşmelerden biridir. Son Roma istilasından sonra bir daha yerleşim görmeyen Kurul Kalesi'nde ele geçen çok sayıda silah ve mühimmat o dönemde yaşananlarla ilgili birer kanıt niteliğindedir. Kurul Kalesi kazılarında çeşitli sektörlerde ele geçen silah ve mühimmatların büyük bir kısmı Pompeius'un istilasına denk gelen son mimari evreyle ilişkilidir. Silahlar arasındaki pilum demirleri, cirit uçları ve mızrak-orak (falx muralis) gibi geleneksel Roma silahlarının varlığı ise Kurul Kalesi'ndeki yıkımın faillerine işaret eden en önemli askerî teknolojilerdir.
Prof. Dr. S. Yücel Şenyurt’un başkanlığı altında Ovaören’de yürütülen kazı çalışmalarının on beşi... more Prof. Dr. S. Yücel Şenyurt’un başkanlığı altında Ovaören’de yürütülen kazı çalışmalarının on beşinci sezonu 05.08.2021-15.11.2021 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kızılırmak Nehri’nin 25 km. güneyinde, Nevşehir-Aksaray il sınırlarının kesiştiği bölgede yer alan Ovaören, Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük ve Teras Alanı olmak üzere üç farklı arkeolojik birim içermektedir. Ovaören’de Erken Tunç Çağının başlarında başlayan ve Roma Dönemi sonuna kadar devam eden kesintisiz yerleşim tarihi Orta Anadolu arkeolojisi açısından son derece önemlidir. Bugüne kadar yürütülen kazılar neticesinde, Topakhöyük ve Teras Alanı’nda Erken ve Orta Tunç Çağı tabakaları, Yassıhöyük’te ise Geç Tunç, Demir Çağı ve Hellenistik-Roma Dönemi tabakaları açığa çıkarılmıştır.
Kurul Kalesi’nde 2021 yılı itibari ile on ikinci kazı sezonu tamamlamıştır. En eski seviyesini Or... more Kurul Kalesi’nde 2021 yılı itibari ile on ikinci kazı sezonu tamamlamıştır. En eski seviyesini Orta-Üst Jürasik ve Alt Kretase dönemleriyle yaşıt kireç taşı kayalarının oluşturduğu bir jeolojik formasyon içinde yer alan, Karadeniz kıyısına 9 km. mesafedeki Kurul Kayalıkları’nın zirvesindeki kale, Melet Irmağı’nın hemen batı yakasında yükselen, Ordu ilini çevreleyen en yüksek noktalardan birisi üzerinde yer almaktadır. Dar ve uzun bir yerleşim imkânı sunan kayalığın zirvesindeki çalışmalar 2019 yılına kadar İç Kale ve Kuzey Teras olarak adlandırılan iki ana kazı sektöründe yürütülmüştür. 2019 yılında ise bu alanlara ek olarak Kuzey Teras’ın en uç noktasını oluşturan İdari Yapılar Alanı (İYA) olarak adlandırılan kesimde çalışmalara başlanmıştır. 2020 ve 2021 kazı sezonlarında yalnızca bu sektörde kazı çalışmaları yürütülmüştür.
Ovaören, located in geologically rich and diverse Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, represents an a... more Ovaören, located in geologically rich and diverse Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, represents an archaeological integrity consisting of three distinct units, 2.5 km south of the town of Ovaören in Gülşehir county of Nevşehir Province. The area, which is also called the “Ovaören Archaeological Settlement Area”, consists of Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area to the west, and Yassıhöyük in the east, which is 350 m away from these units. While the excavations carried out between 2007 and 2021 in Ovaören proved that these three units are chronologically complementary areas, Early and Middle Bronze Age layers in Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area; Late Bronze Age layers, Iron Age layers, and weakly structured Hellenistic-Roman layers were unearthed as to in Yassıhöyük. Ovaören is one of the settlements affected by the political and cultural changes in the region in the Early Iron Age, and which grew and developed within the boundaries of Tabal Country in the Middle Iron Age. Ovaören, which was considered one of the important centers of the Tabal country in the Late Hittite period, developed into a city within the borders of the satrapy of Cappadocia in the Late Iron Age. In this context, architectural remains and archaeological finds from the Iron Age layers in the settlement contribute to understanding the Iron Age culture of the region. Iron Age layers covering this development and alteration process in Ovaören are represented by YH 8-7 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 6-4 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 3-2 dated to the Late Iron Age in Yassıhöyük.
Kurul Fortress is located within the Turkish province of Ordu on the top of steep rocks rising fr... more Kurul Fortress is located within the Turkish province of Ordu on the top of steep rocks rising from the nearby Melet River. It was heavily settled during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator (120-63 BC), the last ruler of the Kingdom of Pontos. Despite fortress as a term specifically bringing to mind military functions at first, this settlement was also a cultic place where various gods had been worshipped starting in earlier periods. The unearthed storage structures containing hundreds of terracotta pithoi and amphorae in different sectors prove that Kurul Fortress had the function of preserving agricultural products and commercial goods within the military and administrative hinterland of Kurul Fortress. Due to being located at a strategic point, Kurul Fortress presents a settlement model that took maximum advantage of the terrain, as much as the topographical conditions permitted. The configuration of Kurul Fortress’ settlements
preferred to face both the western and eastern slopes of the narrow but long summit of the rock on which it is located. Because no later settlement existed on the site after the late Hellenistic period, relatively well-preserved architectural elements have survived to the present day. This paper aims to evaluate the settlement’s structures that were unearthed between 2010-2019, their possible functions, the materials that constituted the structures, the architectural texture, and the contemporary settlement of the region, which also shows similar architectural characteristics. This study is considered to be significant because it will create an opportunity for the settlements in the Kingdom of Pontos to be compared with its territory in terms of architectural
features and will provide abundant information on what a settlement during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator was like.
ANADOLU PREHİSTORYASINA ADANMIŞ BİR YAŞAM: JAK YAKAR'A ARMAĞAN/A LIFE DEDICATED TO ANATOLIAN PREHISTORY: FESTSCHRIFT FOR JAK YAKAR, 2020
Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where ... more Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where Salat Stream and Tigris River meet. The höyük (mound) is located on the northern bench of the Tigris River and measures approximately 150 x 100 m. Within the scope of Ilısu Dam Salvage excavations, 7 levels and 11 architectural phases were identifi ed during the excavations in Aşağı Salat for 5 seasons. Among these settlement layers, the Late Uruk-Early Bronze Age Transition Period and the Neo Assyrian Period constitute the strongest settlement stages. The settlement chronology determined from the höyük on the banks of the Tigris River and going down to the 5th Millennium BC reveals a settlement model shaped with the river. In this study, a general assesstment was made on the place of Aşağı Salat in the Upper Tigris Region settlement history, especially with the data obtained from the recent excavations (2009-2010).
The Middle Iron Age is generally considered to be the period between 900-550 BC, in Anatolia. The... more The Middle Iron Age is generally considered to be the period between 900-550 BC, in Anatolia. The Late Hittite Period is the process that started with the fall of the Hittite Empire (1180 BC) and continued until 700 BC. İn this period, although political actors such as Urartu, Phrygian (Mushkian) and Lydian, the New Assyrian State is the biggest political power in the Near East. The military policy of the New Assyrian State has developed especially in Anatolia and Northern Syria since the 9th century BC. The Late Hittite Kingdoms also experienced the effects of this expansionist policy of Assyria in their artistic production. Tabal Country, which is the representative of the Late Hittite culture in Central Anatolia, was also under the influence of art schools such as Assyria, Arami and Phoenician especially in sculpting. In this article, Tabal Sculpting products are tried to be introduced in a very general framework and it is aimed to emphasize their place in the Late Hittite Art.
2018 yılı kazı çalışmaları Yassıhöyük’te “B Alanı” olarak adlandırılan sektörde, 10x10 m. boyutla... more 2018 yılı kazı çalışmaları Yassıhöyük’te “B Alanı” olarak adlandırılan sektörde, 10x10 m. boyutlarındaki IZ-177 ve JA-177 açmalarında, toplam 200 metrekarelik bir alanda (Resim:1) gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu kapsamda 2015 yılında JA-176 açmasında tespit edilen mimari unsurların takibinin yapılması ve alan genelinde Demir Çağına ait mimari bütünlüğün açığa çıkarılması amaçlanmıştır.
2018 çalışmalarında doğu yamaçta bulunan mekânların açığa çıkarılması en önemli hedeflerden biris... more 2018 çalışmalarında doğu yamaçta bulunan mekânların açığa çıkarılması en önemli hedeflerden birisi olmuştur. CP-113, CR-112, CR-113, CR-114, CS-112 ve CS-113 açmalarında yürütülen çalışmalarda Dionysos Kutsal Alanı ve etrafındaki mekanlar ile doğu sur duvarının küçük bir uzantısı da tespit edilmiştir.
Dionysos törenleri basit bir eğlence olmanın çok daha ötesinde karmaşık ama belli bir amaca hizme... more Dionysos törenleri basit bir eğlence olmanın çok daha ötesinde karmaşık ama belli bir amaca hizmet eden dinsel törenlerdi. Kurul Kalesi Dionysos Kutsal Alanı, iki kademeli bir sekiden (sahne ve sunak alanı) ve bu sekilere erişimi sağlayan basamaklardan oluşuyor. Dionysiak alayın müzik eşliğinde, danslarla kült alanına doğru ilerlediği ve buraya gelindiğinde basamaklar yoluyla dikdörtgen formlu sahneye çıkıldığı, buradan da adak eşyalarının bırakıldığı sunak alanına ulaşıldığı anlaşılmaktadır. Törenin en önemli aşamalarından biri olan kurban töreninin söz konusu sahne alanında gerçekleştirildiği çıkarımını yapmak için alanda ele geçen diğer tüm buluntuların ötesinde demirden tören baltası oldukça yeterli bir kanıt oluşturmaktadır. Buluntular arasında diğer dikkat çekenler ise, sunak alanının kuzey duvarına dayandırılmış, pişmiş topraktan yapılmış çocuk Dionysos heykelciği, çocuk Dionysos protomu ve rhytondur.
Ovaören located within the borders of Gülşehir district in Nevşehir,
25 km south of Kızılırmak Ri... more Ovaören located within the borders of Gülşehir district in Nevşehir, 25 km south of Kızılırmak River (Halys River), is one of the important archaeological sites in Central Anatolia and demonstrates an uninterrupted settlement history from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age until Roman Period. The site includes three diff erent sectors called as Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük, and Terrace Area. Th e excavations conducted between 2007 and 2018 have been carried out in the Yassıhöyük where the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age layers were identifi ed. During the excavations in Topakhöyük and Terrace Area only the layers of the Early and Middle Bronze Ages were identified. In the Iron Age, Ovaören is one of the settlements within the Tabal Country during the Late Hittite Period and within the borders of the Satrapy of Cappadocia during the Late Iron Age. In this context, Ovaören, either with its architectural remains or its archaeological finds, reveals important data to contribute to a better understanding of the Iron Age culture in Central Anatolia. Th e subject of this study is the deer fi gured samples in the painted pottery tradition of the Iron Age. Th e Iron Age layers of Ovaören are represented in Yassıhöyük with the layers of YH 7-8 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 4-6 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 2-3 dated to the Late Iron Age. Among the potteries with geometrical and fi gurative decorations found in these layers, one of the most important groups is the pottery with deer fi gures. Th e pottery with deer fi gures of Ovaören-Yassıhöyük which is demonstrated here with stratigraphic and stylistic comparisons, gives a new point of view to the painted pottery tradition (Alişar-4) of the Central Anatolia. In this regard, the comparisons of the material in question with the examples from the Iron Age settlements in Central Anatolia, notably Alişar, Gordion, and Boğazköy, emphasizes the importance of Ovaören in this tradition.
Aşağı Salat, located on the northern bank of the Tigris River near the Diyarbakır-Batman border, ... more Aşağı Salat, located on the northern bank of the Tigris River near the Diyarbakır-Batman border, and it has a most suitable river crossing location along river. During 2000-2002 and 2009-2010 salvage excavations at Aşağı Salat, conducted in the scope of Ilısu Dam construction activities, a Neo Assyrian settlement with three architectural phases were revealed. The assesments of the archeological materials such as architectural remains, graves, small finds and potteries unearthed in the settlement were aimed in this article.
In this study, it is aimed to present new suggestions for dating and different historical process... more In this study, it is aimed to present new suggestions for dating and different historical processes for the inscription of TOPADA in Nevşehir-Acıgöl, dictated by Tabalian king Wasusarma. This study concentrate on evaluations of the informations obtained from the TOPADA inscription on the basis of both other written sources and the recent archaeological results related to this period. The historical process, of mostly the last thirty years of the 8th century BC, was formed around political actors such as Assyrians, Urartians, Muškians and Kimmerians within the geographical region extending from the Kızılırmak basin to the Taurus. This study offers new suggestions for these historical continuities and changes in the geography of Tabal, as well.
Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 2023
In this study, it is aimed to make an evaluation especially the architectural traditions of the L... more In this study, it is aimed to make an evaluation especially the architectural traditions of the Late Iron Age layer discovered in Ovaören-Yassıhöyük, located within the borders of Nevşehir province, in the Cappadocia region of Central Anatolia. Excavations started in 2007 and are still continuing in the settlement, which stands out with its urban features in the Late Bronze Age and Middle Iron Age. Contrary to these periods, the data obtained from the Late Iron Age layer, which has been determined with three main architectural and sub-phases until now, shows that Ovaören turned into a rural center during the period of Persian/Achaemenid political domination. Although it is known that the settlements established in regions with fertile agricultural lands in the area show similar characteristics in terms of ceramics, architecture and small finds, the building levels found in the Late Iron Age layer of Ovaören revealed that the settlement underwent some changes during this period. In this context, the excavation data were examined in detail by comparing them with the regional centers, and the change of the architectural traditions unearthed in the Late Iron Age layer was presented chronologically.
Bu çalışmada Ordu-Kurul Kalesi'nde 2010-2021 yılları arasında yürütülen kazı çalışmalarında ele g... more Bu çalışmada Ordu-Kurul Kalesi'nde 2010-2021 yılları arasında yürütülen kazı çalışmalarında ele geçen Roma özellikli silahlar ele alınmıştır. Kurul Kalesi, Pontos Krallığı'nın en önemli kralı VI. Mithradates Eupator Dionysos (MÖ 120-63) tarafından Orta ve Doğu Karadeniz coğrafyalarında inşa ettirilmiş olan çok sayıdaki kaleden biridir. VI. Mithradates ve Roma arasında üç büyük savaş gerçekleşmiştir. Mithradates-Roma savaşları olarak bilinen bu savaşlardan sonuncusu (MÖ 74-63) büyük oranda Karadeniz coğrafyasında yaşanmıştır. Pontos coğrafyası bu son savaş sırasında önce Lucullus, sonrasında ise Pompeius'un komutasında gerçekleştirilen iki büyük Roma istilasına maruz kalmıştır. VI. Mithradates'in müstahkem kalelerine ilk darbe Lucullus'un seferi sırasında indirilmiş olsa bile asıl yıkım Pompeius'un seferi sonucunda oluşmuştur. Pompeius'un komuta ettiği Roma ordusu VI. Mithradates Eupotor Dionysos'un tüm kalelerini yıkarak onları kullanılamaz duruma getirmiştir. Kurul Kalesi bu yıkımın izlerini bünyesinde barındıran en önemli yerleşmelerden biridir. Son Roma istilasından sonra bir daha yerleşim görmeyen Kurul Kalesi'nde ele geçen çok sayıda silah ve mühimmat o dönemde yaşananlarla ilgili birer kanıt niteliğindedir. Kurul Kalesi kazılarında çeşitli sektörlerde ele geçen silah ve mühimmatların büyük bir kısmı Pompeius'un istilasına denk gelen son mimari evreyle ilişkilidir. Silahlar arasındaki pilum demirleri, cirit uçları ve mızrak-orak (falx muralis) gibi geleneksel Roma silahlarının varlığı ise Kurul Kalesi'ndeki yıkımın faillerine işaret eden en önemli askerî teknolojilerdir.
Prof. Dr. S. Yücel Şenyurt’un başkanlığı altında Ovaören’de yürütülen kazı çalışmalarının on beşi... more Prof. Dr. S. Yücel Şenyurt’un başkanlığı altında Ovaören’de yürütülen kazı çalışmalarının on beşinci sezonu 05.08.2021-15.11.2021 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kızılırmak Nehri’nin 25 km. güneyinde, Nevşehir-Aksaray il sınırlarının kesiştiği bölgede yer alan Ovaören, Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük ve Teras Alanı olmak üzere üç farklı arkeolojik birim içermektedir. Ovaören’de Erken Tunç Çağının başlarında başlayan ve Roma Dönemi sonuna kadar devam eden kesintisiz yerleşim tarihi Orta Anadolu arkeolojisi açısından son derece önemlidir. Bugüne kadar yürütülen kazılar neticesinde, Topakhöyük ve Teras Alanı’nda Erken ve Orta Tunç Çağı tabakaları, Yassıhöyük’te ise Geç Tunç, Demir Çağı ve Hellenistik-Roma Dönemi tabakaları açığa çıkarılmıştır.
Kurul Kalesi’nde 2021 yılı itibari ile on ikinci kazı sezonu tamamlamıştır. En eski seviyesini Or... more Kurul Kalesi’nde 2021 yılı itibari ile on ikinci kazı sezonu tamamlamıştır. En eski seviyesini Orta-Üst Jürasik ve Alt Kretase dönemleriyle yaşıt kireç taşı kayalarının oluşturduğu bir jeolojik formasyon içinde yer alan, Karadeniz kıyısına 9 km. mesafedeki Kurul Kayalıkları’nın zirvesindeki kale, Melet Irmağı’nın hemen batı yakasında yükselen, Ordu ilini çevreleyen en yüksek noktalardan birisi üzerinde yer almaktadır. Dar ve uzun bir yerleşim imkânı sunan kayalığın zirvesindeki çalışmalar 2019 yılına kadar İç Kale ve Kuzey Teras olarak adlandırılan iki ana kazı sektöründe yürütülmüştür. 2019 yılında ise bu alanlara ek olarak Kuzey Teras’ın en uç noktasını oluşturan İdari Yapılar Alanı (İYA) olarak adlandırılan kesimde çalışmalara başlanmıştır. 2020 ve 2021 kazı sezonlarında yalnızca bu sektörde kazı çalışmaları yürütülmüştür.
Ovaören, located in geologically rich and diverse Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, represents an a... more Ovaören, located in geologically rich and diverse Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, represents an archaeological integrity consisting of three distinct units, 2.5 km south of the town of Ovaören in Gülşehir county of Nevşehir Province. The area, which is also called the “Ovaören Archaeological Settlement Area”, consists of Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area to the west, and Yassıhöyük in the east, which is 350 m away from these units. While the excavations carried out between 2007 and 2021 in Ovaören proved that these three units are chronologically complementary areas, Early and Middle Bronze Age layers in Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area; Late Bronze Age layers, Iron Age layers, and weakly structured Hellenistic-Roman layers were unearthed as to in Yassıhöyük. Ovaören is one of the settlements affected by the political and cultural changes in the region in the Early Iron Age, and which grew and developed within the boundaries of Tabal Country in the Middle Iron Age. Ovaören, which was considered one of the important centers of the Tabal country in the Late Hittite period, developed into a city within the borders of the satrapy of Cappadocia in the Late Iron Age. In this context, architectural remains and archaeological finds from the Iron Age layers in the settlement contribute to understanding the Iron Age culture of the region. Iron Age layers covering this development and alteration process in Ovaören are represented by YH 8-7 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 6-4 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 3-2 dated to the Late Iron Age in Yassıhöyük.
Kurul Fortress is located within the Turkish province of Ordu on the top of steep rocks rising fr... more Kurul Fortress is located within the Turkish province of Ordu on the top of steep rocks rising from the nearby Melet River. It was heavily settled during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator (120-63 BC), the last ruler of the Kingdom of Pontos. Despite fortress as a term specifically bringing to mind military functions at first, this settlement was also a cultic place where various gods had been worshipped starting in earlier periods. The unearthed storage structures containing hundreds of terracotta pithoi and amphorae in different sectors prove that Kurul Fortress had the function of preserving agricultural products and commercial goods within the military and administrative hinterland of Kurul Fortress. Due to being located at a strategic point, Kurul Fortress presents a settlement model that took maximum advantage of the terrain, as much as the topographical conditions permitted. The configuration of Kurul Fortress’ settlements
preferred to face both the western and eastern slopes of the narrow but long summit of the rock on which it is located. Because no later settlement existed on the site after the late Hellenistic period, relatively well-preserved architectural elements have survived to the present day. This paper aims to evaluate the settlement’s structures that were unearthed between 2010-2019, their possible functions, the materials that constituted the structures, the architectural texture, and the contemporary settlement of the region, which also shows similar architectural characteristics. This study is considered to be significant because it will create an opportunity for the settlements in the Kingdom of Pontos to be compared with its territory in terms of architectural
features and will provide abundant information on what a settlement during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator was like.
ANADOLU PREHİSTORYASINA ADANMIŞ BİR YAŞAM: JAK YAKAR'A ARMAĞAN/A LIFE DEDICATED TO ANATOLIAN PREHISTORY: FESTSCHRIFT FOR JAK YAKAR, 2020
Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where ... more Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where Salat Stream and Tigris River meet. The höyük (mound) is located on the northern bench of the Tigris River and measures approximately 150 x 100 m. Within the scope of Ilısu Dam Salvage excavations, 7 levels and 11 architectural phases were identifi ed during the excavations in Aşağı Salat for 5 seasons. Among these settlement layers, the Late Uruk-Early Bronze Age Transition Period and the Neo Assyrian Period constitute the strongest settlement stages. The settlement chronology determined from the höyük on the banks of the Tigris River and going down to the 5th Millennium BC reveals a settlement model shaped with the river. In this study, a general assesstment was made on the place of Aşağı Salat in the Upper Tigris Region settlement history, especially with the data obtained from the recent excavations (2009-2010).
The Middle Iron Age is generally considered to be the period between 900-550 BC, in Anatolia. The... more The Middle Iron Age is generally considered to be the period between 900-550 BC, in Anatolia. The Late Hittite Period is the process that started with the fall of the Hittite Empire (1180 BC) and continued until 700 BC. İn this period, although political actors such as Urartu, Phrygian (Mushkian) and Lydian, the New Assyrian State is the biggest political power in the Near East. The military policy of the New Assyrian State has developed especially in Anatolia and Northern Syria since the 9th century BC. The Late Hittite Kingdoms also experienced the effects of this expansionist policy of Assyria in their artistic production. Tabal Country, which is the representative of the Late Hittite culture in Central Anatolia, was also under the influence of art schools such as Assyria, Arami and Phoenician especially in sculpting. In this article, Tabal Sculpting products are tried to be introduced in a very general framework and it is aimed to emphasize their place in the Late Hittite Art.
2018 yılı kazı çalışmaları Yassıhöyük’te “B Alanı” olarak adlandırılan sektörde, 10x10 m. boyutla... more 2018 yılı kazı çalışmaları Yassıhöyük’te “B Alanı” olarak adlandırılan sektörde, 10x10 m. boyutlarındaki IZ-177 ve JA-177 açmalarında, toplam 200 metrekarelik bir alanda (Resim:1) gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu kapsamda 2015 yılında JA-176 açmasında tespit edilen mimari unsurların takibinin yapılması ve alan genelinde Demir Çağına ait mimari bütünlüğün açığa çıkarılması amaçlanmıştır.
2018 çalışmalarında doğu yamaçta bulunan mekânların açığa çıkarılması en önemli hedeflerden biris... more 2018 çalışmalarında doğu yamaçta bulunan mekânların açığa çıkarılması en önemli hedeflerden birisi olmuştur. CP-113, CR-112, CR-113, CR-114, CS-112 ve CS-113 açmalarında yürütülen çalışmalarda Dionysos Kutsal Alanı ve etrafındaki mekanlar ile doğu sur duvarının küçük bir uzantısı da tespit edilmiştir.
Dionysos törenleri basit bir eğlence olmanın çok daha ötesinde karmaşık ama belli bir amaca hizme... more Dionysos törenleri basit bir eğlence olmanın çok daha ötesinde karmaşık ama belli bir amaca hizmet eden dinsel törenlerdi. Kurul Kalesi Dionysos Kutsal Alanı, iki kademeli bir sekiden (sahne ve sunak alanı) ve bu sekilere erişimi sağlayan basamaklardan oluşuyor. Dionysiak alayın müzik eşliğinde, danslarla kült alanına doğru ilerlediği ve buraya gelindiğinde basamaklar yoluyla dikdörtgen formlu sahneye çıkıldığı, buradan da adak eşyalarının bırakıldığı sunak alanına ulaşıldığı anlaşılmaktadır. Törenin en önemli aşamalarından biri olan kurban töreninin söz konusu sahne alanında gerçekleştirildiği çıkarımını yapmak için alanda ele geçen diğer tüm buluntuların ötesinde demirden tören baltası oldukça yeterli bir kanıt oluşturmaktadır. Buluntular arasında diğer dikkat çekenler ise, sunak alanının kuzey duvarına dayandırılmış, pişmiş topraktan yapılmış çocuk Dionysos heykelciği, çocuk Dionysos protomu ve rhytondur.
Ovaören located within the borders of Gülşehir district in Nevşehir,
25 km south of Kızılırmak Ri... more Ovaören located within the borders of Gülşehir district in Nevşehir, 25 km south of Kızılırmak River (Halys River), is one of the important archaeological sites in Central Anatolia and demonstrates an uninterrupted settlement history from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age until Roman Period. The site includes three diff erent sectors called as Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük, and Terrace Area. Th e excavations conducted between 2007 and 2018 have been carried out in the Yassıhöyük where the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age layers were identifi ed. During the excavations in Topakhöyük and Terrace Area only the layers of the Early and Middle Bronze Ages were identified. In the Iron Age, Ovaören is one of the settlements within the Tabal Country during the Late Hittite Period and within the borders of the Satrapy of Cappadocia during the Late Iron Age. In this context, Ovaören, either with its architectural remains or its archaeological finds, reveals important data to contribute to a better understanding of the Iron Age culture in Central Anatolia. Th e subject of this study is the deer fi gured samples in the painted pottery tradition of the Iron Age. Th e Iron Age layers of Ovaören are represented in Yassıhöyük with the layers of YH 7-8 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 4-6 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 2-3 dated to the Late Iron Age. Among the potteries with geometrical and fi gurative decorations found in these layers, one of the most important groups is the pottery with deer fi gures. Th e pottery with deer fi gures of Ovaören-Yassıhöyük which is demonstrated here with stratigraphic and stylistic comparisons, gives a new point of view to the painted pottery tradition (Alişar-4) of the Central Anatolia. In this regard, the comparisons of the material in question with the examples from the Iron Age settlements in Central Anatolia, notably Alişar, Gordion, and Boğazköy, emphasizes the importance of Ovaören in this tradition.
Aşağı Salat, located on the northern bank of the Tigris River near the Diyarbakır-Batman border, ... more Aşağı Salat, located on the northern bank of the Tigris River near the Diyarbakır-Batman border, and it has a most suitable river crossing location along river. During 2000-2002 and 2009-2010 salvage excavations at Aşağı Salat, conducted in the scope of Ilısu Dam construction activities, a Neo Assyrian settlement with three architectural phases were revealed. The assesments of the archeological materials such as architectural remains, graves, small finds and potteries unearthed in the settlement were aimed in this article.
In this study, it is aimed to present new suggestions for dating and different historical process... more In this study, it is aimed to present new suggestions for dating and different historical processes for the inscription of TOPADA in Nevşehir-Acıgöl, dictated by Tabalian king Wasusarma. This study concentrate on evaluations of the informations obtained from the TOPADA inscription on the basis of both other written sources and the recent archaeological results related to this period. The historical process, of mostly the last thirty years of the 8th century BC, was formed around political actors such as Assyrians, Urartians, Muškians and Kimmerians within the geographical region extending from the Kızılırmak basin to the Taurus. This study offers new suggestions for these historical continuities and changes in the geography of Tabal, as well.
Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where ... more Aşağı Salat is located 20 km east of Bismil district of Diyarbakır, 2 km east of the point where Salat Stream and Tigris River meet. The höyük (mound) is located on the northern bench of the Tigris River and measures approximately 150 x 100 m. Within the scope of Ilısu Dam Salvage excavations, 7 levels and 11 architectural phases were identified during the excavations in Aşağı Salat for 5 seasons. Among these settlement layers, the Late Uruk-Early Bronze Age Transition Period and the Neo Assyrian Period constitute the strongest settlement stages. The settlement chronology determined from the höyük on the banks of the Tigris River and going down to the 5th Millennium BC reveals a settlement model shaped with the river. In this study, it has been tried to make a general evaluation on the place and importance of the Aşsağı Salat Cemetery in Northern Mesopotamia and Upper Tigris Region, especially with the data obtained from the last period excavations (2009-2010).
Late Bronze Age Painted Pottery Traditions at the Margins of the Hittite State, 2022
Ovaören is located 25 km south of the Kızılırmak River, within the boundaries of Nevşehir provinc... more Ovaören is located 25 km south of the Kızılırmak River, within the boundaries of Nevşehir province. At approximately 40 hectares in size, it is one of the most important archaeological sites of the region. There are three different archaeological areas in Ovaören; Topakhöyük, Terrace Area and Yassıhöyük. While Topakhöyük and its large terrace were inhabited from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age to the end
of the Middle Bronze Age, the most prominent layers of Yassıhöyük are dated to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. The Late Bronze Age settlement spreads over an area of approximately 17 hectares. Although few in number, the ‘Painted Pottery’ specimens uncovered in the Late Bronze Age layers at Ovaören have been classified into specific groups in terms of their production and decoration techniques. The most significant group is the hatched decorated one. The closest parallels to the Ovaören Late Bronze Age painted pottery are found in the Late Bronze Age layers of Tarsus-Gözlükule LBII, Yumuktepe VII–V, Kilise Tepe IIa–c, Oluz Höyük 7B and Soli Höyük. The painted tradition found in the Late Bronze Age layers at Ovaören reveals significant results for the origin and chronology of regional developments in Hittite pottery.
Anadolu'da Bir Çınar: Prof. Dr. M. Erol Altınsapan 60. Yaş Armağanı, 2022
The Assyrian Empire, which spread over a wide geographical area from the Assyrian city in the 12t... more The Assyrian Empire, which spread over a wide geographical area from the Assyrian city in the 12th century BC, adopted different administrative methods. In Assyria, which adopted the settlement system of the Mitanni Kingdom, these different hegemonic practices went through a number of processes. These hegemonic models, which were adopted and used in different geographies of the empire, reveal the success of the imperial ideology. By the end of the Neo-Assyrian period, an integrative policy was followed in the imperial lands. One of the biggest influences in this is the mass population practices in order to obtain collective labor in the agricultural colonization process. The policies used in these large areas of ownership continue as a matter of discussion. For this reason, the existence of Assyria in the provinces is still a controversial issue. Many researchers have proposed different views on the spread of Assyria. Each of these works tends to explain imperial politics, often unilaterally. For this reason, many of these studies evaluate the practices in the empire as homogeneous. The most important model among these is the "network empire model" proposed by Mario Liverani, which influenced many subsequent studies. Liverani's model of the empire of networks stands completely apart from other works. This model interprets the Assyrian existence in different geographies as a result rather than a cause, thus distinguishing it from other hegemonic models. According to this model, regional practices in the provinces of the empire were not completely homogeneous. For this reason, Liverani defines the empire not as a territorial expansion, but as a communication and transportation network on which the flow of material goods and people is ensured. Thus, military expeditions carried out regularly every year were made to support this network. In the model of the Empire of Networks, a network of dependent relations was established with many agricultural settlements affiliated to the provinces. In this study, we will focus on the network empire model. We would like to state that it is a great honor for us to take part in this work, which was gifted to Prof. Erol Altınsapan who dedicated life to Anatolian Art History researches.
Kültür Varlıkları ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüğü 2019-2020 Yılı Kazı Çalışmaları, 2022
Nevşehir ve Aksaray il sınırlarının kesiştiği bölgede Nevşehir’in batı, Aksaray’ın ise kuzeydoğu ... more Nevşehir ve Aksaray il sınırlarının kesiştiği bölgede Nevşehir’in batı, Aksaray’ın ise kuzeydoğu kesimini kontrol altında tutan bir coğrafi konuma sahip Ovaören, Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük ve Teras Alanı olmak üzere üç farklı arkeolojik birimden oluşmaktadır. Bu arkeolojik birimler içerisinde Yassıhöyük, yaklaşık 475m x 350m. boyutları ve 17 hektarı kaplayan alanı ile Nevşehir İli sınırları içerisindeki en büyük boyutlu höyüklerden biridir.
Kültür Varlıkları ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüğü 2019-2020 Yılı Kazı Çalışmaları, 2022
Ordu İli Altınordu İlçesi Bayadı Mahallesi sınırları içinde yer alan Kurul Kalesi’nde 2019 ve 202... more Ordu İli Altınordu İlçesi Bayadı Mahallesi sınırları içinde yer alan Kurul Kalesi’nde 2019 ve 2020 yılları kazı çalışmaları Ordu Müze Müdürlüğü’nün başkanlığı ve Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Arkeoloji Bölümü Öğretim Üyesi Prof. Dr. S. Yücel Şenyurt’un bilimsel danışmanlığı altındaki bir ekip tarafından yürütülmüştür. 2019 yılı çalışmaları 01.08.2019-05.11.2019 tarihleri arasında, 2020 çalışmaları ise 18.08.2020-31.12.2020 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Kültür Varlıkları ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüğü 2019-2020 Yılı Yüzey Araştırmaları, 2022
“Ordu İli Melet Irmağı Havzası Yüzey Araştırması (OMHAY)”, Melet Irmağı’nın Ordu ili sınırları iç... more “Ordu İli Melet Irmağı Havzası Yüzey Araştırması (OMHAY)”, Melet Irmağı’nın Ordu ili sınırları içerisinden geçtiği havzayı araştırmayı hedefleyen bir projedir. Karadeniz genelinde olduğu gibi, Ordu’nun fiziki coğrafyasında da kıyıya paralel sıradağlar ve bu dağları kuzey-güney yönünde kesen akarsular önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Araştırmanın coğrafi başlangıç noktası 2018-2020 yılı çalışmalarının yürütüldüğü Mesudiye İlçesi olmuştur. Anadolu’nun iç kesimlerine açılan, Çoruh-Kelkit Vadisi’ne bakan konumu ile Mesudiye, Sivas-Koyulhisar ve Tokat-Reşadiye ile sınır olup özellikle ilçenin güney kesimleri, hayvancılık, tarım ve ormancılık faaliyetleri için son derece elverişlidir.
ANADOLU’DA ETNOARKEOLOJİ ARAŞTIRMALARI (Prehistorik Dönem’den Günümüze Kadar), 2021
Royal Touches to the Rural Landscape: The Importance of Assyrian Water
Canals in Context of Agri... more Royal Touches to the Rural Landscape: The Importance of Assyrian Water
Canals in Context of Agricultural Colonization
In the Assyrian history, significant hydraulic systems were built in dry agricultural regions and areas where the precipitation regime was irregular for the purpose of increasing efficiency and reshaping the landscape of the existing cities. Both archaeological and philological data give information about the different stages and technologies of the hydraulic enterprises in Assyria. The construction of the regional water channels, which began with the transfer of the capital city to Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta by Tukulti-Ninurta I (1245-1207 BC), in the Middle Assyrian Period, peaked with the construction of the large-scale irrigation channels with Sennacherib (704-681 BC) in the Neo Assyrian period. Information is given about the construction of the Khinis Canal in the Bavian Inscription from the period of Sennacherib. The water canals constructed especially around the new cities and capital cities enabled economic development in the areas with dense population. The construction of the water channels was not only limited to Assyria; it was also carried on in surrounding cities and provincial centers. The water channels built for irrigation purposes in respect of their primary functions became the reminders of the power of the Assyrian kings by assuming the role of royal propaganda in the ideological terms. Hence, new landscapes were created with the irrigation systems built in the country.
“Ordu İli Melet Irmağı Havzası Yüzey Araştırması (OMHAY)” projesi,
Melet Irmağı’nın Ordu ili sını... more “Ordu İli Melet Irmağı Havzası Yüzey Araştırması (OMHAY)” projesi, Melet Irmağı’nın Ordu ili sınırları içerisinden geçtiği havzanın arkeolojik potansiyelinin araştırılmasını amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmaların başlatılmasındaki en önemli sebeplerin başında, 2010 yılından itibaren Ordu-Kurul Kalesi’nde yürüttüğümüz kazı çalışmaları gelmektedir. Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi ve Anadolu arkeolojisi için son derece önemli bilgiler sunan Kurul Kalesi, bölge tarihinin Hellenistik döneme ait askeri, siyasi, dini ve kültürel geçmişini ortaya koyan veriler sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, Ordu il sınırları içerisindeki sınırlı arkeolojik veriler, sahil kesiminde paleolitik döneme tarihlenen taş aletler bilinmekle birlikte, tarihi kaynaklar ve arkeolojik veriler esasında MÖ. 7. yüzyıldan daha öncesine ulaşmamaktadır.
Kurul Kalesi kazıları Ordu tarihi ve Doğu Karadeniz arkeolojisi için son yıllardaki en önemli kaz... more Kurul Kalesi kazıları Ordu tarihi ve Doğu Karadeniz arkeolojisi için son yıllardaki en önemli kazanımlardan birisi olmuştur. Kurul Kalesi’nden elde edilen bilimsel veriler Hellenistik dönemin askeri, siyasi, dini ve kültürel geçmişini yansıtırken, Ordu’nun ve Doğu Karadeniz’in Anadolu arkeolojisi için ne kadar büyük bir öneme sahip olduğunu da ortaya koymuştur.
In the salvage excavations conducted in Tasmasor (Erzurum) seven kilometres northeast
of Erzurum ... more In the salvage excavations conducted in Tasmasor (Erzurum) seven kilometres northeast of Erzurum under the framework of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline Archaeological Salvage Excavations Project a total of seventeen Late Iron Age burials were unearthed. These burials considered in this study comprise twelve simple inhumations and five pithos burials.
The aim of this study is the synthesis of textual and archaeological evidence about the Tabal Kin... more The aim of this study is the synthesis of textual and archaeological evidence about the Tabal Kingdom emerged on the Central Anatolian Plateau after the collapse of Hittite Empire. Development of the Tabal Kingdom between 850-650 BC was traced through the Assyrian written sources but local textual evidence also provides significant information about the history of Tabal. Beside the Assyrian and local textual evidence, artworks, pottery traditions, settlement models, architectural traditions, metal works and religious practices indicate that Tabal was the key element of Central Anatolian Iron Age culture. Archaeological surveys and excavations held in Tabal land indicate that main geographical distribution of Alişar 4 pottery tradition was in Tabal kingdom. Sculptural remains from Tabal reflect Assyrian and Aramaic influences within the concept of Late Hittite art. While the political relations with other Iron Age political entities like Mushki, Urartu, Khaska and Assyria indicated by textual sources, archaeological materials specific to the region reflects Tabalian identity.
This study, titled “The Place and Importance of the Early Bronze Age I Cemetery of Aşağı Salat in... more This study, titled “The Place and Importance of the Early Bronze Age I Cemetery of Aşağı Salat in Northern Mesopotamia”, includes the archaeological analysis of all graves and grave goods. The cemetery has been compared with similar archaeological sites located in Anatolia and Northern Mesopotamia. The differences and similarities tried to be recognized from the point view of burial customs. Stone cist graves appeared at the end of Late Chalcolithic Period and beginning of the Early Bronze Age I in Southeastern Anatolia. This burial custom expanded in Southern Mesopotamia especially in Middle Bronze Age. Aşağı Salat Early Bronze Age I cemetery is among that kind of cemeteries revealed in Upper Tigris region. It has been recognized that Aşağı Salat stone cist graves have similar characteristics with the other graves dated to this period. Pottery recovered from the graves has similarities with Ninive 5 forms. Considering the pottery finds Aşağı Salat cemetery could be dated to the earlier period of Early Bronze Age I between 3200-3000 B.C. Aşağı Salat Early Bronze I cemetery widens our perception with its similarities and differences to the other cemeteries of the same period. Aşağı Salat cemetery will have a distinctive place for the comparison of the burial customs of the Early Bronze Age I period.
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Papers by Atakan Akçay
Settlement Area”, consists of Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area to the west, and Yassıhöyük in the east, which is 350 m away from these units. While the excavations carried out between 2007 and 2021 in Ovaören proved that these three units are chronologically complementary areas, Early and Middle Bronze Age layers in Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area; Late Bronze Age layers, Iron Age layers, and weakly structured Hellenistic-Roman layers were unearthed as to in Yassıhöyük. Ovaören is one of the
settlements affected by the political and cultural changes in the region in the Early Iron Age, and which
grew and developed within the boundaries of Tabal Country in the Middle Iron Age. Ovaören, which was considered one of the important centers of the Tabal country in the Late Hittite period, developed into a city within the borders of the satrapy of Cappadocia in the Late Iron Age. In this context,
architectural remains and archaeological finds from the Iron Age layers in the settlement contribute to understanding the Iron Age culture of the region. Iron Age layers covering this development and alteration process in Ovaören are represented by YH 8-7 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 6-4 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 3-2 dated to the Late Iron Age in Yassıhöyük.
preferred to face both the western and eastern slopes of the narrow but long summit of the rock on which it is located. Because no later settlement existed on the site after the late Hellenistic period, relatively well-preserved architectural elements have survived to the present day. This paper aims to evaluate the settlement’s structures that were unearthed between 2010-2019, their possible functions, the materials that constituted the structures, the architectural texture, and the contemporary settlement of the region, which also shows similar architectural characteristics. This study is considered to be significant because it will create an opportunity for the settlements in the Kingdom of Pontos to be compared with its territory in terms of architectural
features and will provide abundant information on what a settlement during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator was like.
anlaşılmaktadır. Törenin en önemli aşamalarından biri olan kurban
töreninin söz konusu sahne alanında gerçekleştirildiği çıkarımını yapmak
için alanda ele geçen diğer tüm buluntuların ötesinde demirden tören baltası oldukça yeterli bir kanıt oluşturmaktadır. Buluntular arasında diğer dikkat çekenler ise, sunak alanının kuzey duvarına dayandırılmış, pişmiş topraktan yapılmış çocuk Dionysos heykelciği, çocuk Dionysos protomu ve rhytondur.
25 km south of Kızılırmak River (Halys River), is one of the important
archaeological sites in Central Anatolia and demonstrates an uninterrupted settlement history from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age until Roman Period. The site includes three diff erent sectors called as Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük, and Terrace Area. Th e excavations conducted between 2007 and 2018 have been carried out in the Yassıhöyük where the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age layers were identifi ed. During the excavations in Topakhöyük and Terrace Area only the layers of the Early and Middle Bronze Ages were identified.
In the Iron Age, Ovaören is one of the settlements within the Tabal
Country during the Late Hittite Period and within the borders of the
Satrapy of Cappadocia during the Late Iron Age. In this context, Ovaören,
either with its architectural remains or its archaeological finds, reveals
important data to contribute to a better understanding of the Iron Age
culture in Central Anatolia. Th e subject of this study is the deer fi gured
samples in the painted pottery tradition of the Iron Age. Th e Iron Age
layers of Ovaören are represented in Yassıhöyük with the layers of YH 7-8 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 4-6 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and
YH 2-3 dated to the Late Iron Age. Among the potteries with geometrical
and fi gurative decorations found in these layers, one of the most important groups is the pottery with deer fi gures. Th e pottery with deer fi gures of Ovaören-Yassıhöyük which is demonstrated here with stratigraphic and stylistic comparisons, gives a new point of view to the painted pottery tradition (Alişar-4) of the Central Anatolia. In this regard, the comparisons of the material in question with the examples from the Iron Age settlements in Central Anatolia, notably Alişar, Gordion, and Boğazköy, emphasizes the importance of Ovaören in this tradition.
Settlement Area”, consists of Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area to the west, and Yassıhöyük in the east, which is 350 m away from these units. While the excavations carried out between 2007 and 2021 in Ovaören proved that these three units are chronologically complementary areas, Early and Middle Bronze Age layers in Topakhöyük and the Terrace Area; Late Bronze Age layers, Iron Age layers, and weakly structured Hellenistic-Roman layers were unearthed as to in Yassıhöyük. Ovaören is one of the
settlements affected by the political and cultural changes in the region in the Early Iron Age, and which
grew and developed within the boundaries of Tabal Country in the Middle Iron Age. Ovaören, which was considered one of the important centers of the Tabal country in the Late Hittite period, developed into a city within the borders of the satrapy of Cappadocia in the Late Iron Age. In this context,
architectural remains and archaeological finds from the Iron Age layers in the settlement contribute to understanding the Iron Age culture of the region. Iron Age layers covering this development and alteration process in Ovaören are represented by YH 8-7 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 6-4 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and YH 3-2 dated to the Late Iron Age in Yassıhöyük.
preferred to face both the western and eastern slopes of the narrow but long summit of the rock on which it is located. Because no later settlement existed on the site after the late Hellenistic period, relatively well-preserved architectural elements have survived to the present day. This paper aims to evaluate the settlement’s structures that were unearthed between 2010-2019, their possible functions, the materials that constituted the structures, the architectural texture, and the contemporary settlement of the region, which also shows similar architectural characteristics. This study is considered to be significant because it will create an opportunity for the settlements in the Kingdom of Pontos to be compared with its territory in terms of architectural
features and will provide abundant information on what a settlement during the reign of Mithridates VI Eupator was like.
anlaşılmaktadır. Törenin en önemli aşamalarından biri olan kurban
töreninin söz konusu sahne alanında gerçekleştirildiği çıkarımını yapmak
için alanda ele geçen diğer tüm buluntuların ötesinde demirden tören baltası oldukça yeterli bir kanıt oluşturmaktadır. Buluntular arasında diğer dikkat çekenler ise, sunak alanının kuzey duvarına dayandırılmış, pişmiş topraktan yapılmış çocuk Dionysos heykelciği, çocuk Dionysos protomu ve rhytondur.
25 km south of Kızılırmak River (Halys River), is one of the important
archaeological sites in Central Anatolia and demonstrates an uninterrupted settlement history from the beginning of the Early Bronze Age until Roman Period. The site includes three diff erent sectors called as Yassıhöyük, Topakhöyük, and Terrace Area. Th e excavations conducted between 2007 and 2018 have been carried out in the Yassıhöyük where the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age layers were identifi ed. During the excavations in Topakhöyük and Terrace Area only the layers of the Early and Middle Bronze Ages were identified.
In the Iron Age, Ovaören is one of the settlements within the Tabal
Country during the Late Hittite Period and within the borders of the
Satrapy of Cappadocia during the Late Iron Age. In this context, Ovaören,
either with its architectural remains or its archaeological finds, reveals
important data to contribute to a better understanding of the Iron Age
culture in Central Anatolia. Th e subject of this study is the deer fi gured
samples in the painted pottery tradition of the Iron Age. Th e Iron Age
layers of Ovaören are represented in Yassıhöyük with the layers of YH 7-8 dated to the Early Iron Age, YH 4-6 dated to the Middle Iron Age, and
YH 2-3 dated to the Late Iron Age. Among the potteries with geometrical
and fi gurative decorations found in these layers, one of the most important groups is the pottery with deer fi gures. Th e pottery with deer fi gures of Ovaören-Yassıhöyük which is demonstrated here with stratigraphic and stylistic comparisons, gives a new point of view to the painted pottery tradition (Alişar-4) of the Central Anatolia. In this regard, the comparisons of the material in question with the examples from the Iron Age settlements in Central Anatolia, notably Alişar, Gordion, and Boğazköy, emphasizes the importance of Ovaören in this tradition.
of the Middle Bronze Age, the most prominent layers of Yassıhöyük are dated to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age. The Late Bronze Age settlement spreads over an area of approximately 17 hectares. Although few in number, the ‘Painted Pottery’ specimens uncovered in the Late Bronze Age layers at Ovaören have been classified into specific groups in terms of their production and decoration techniques. The most significant group is the hatched decorated one. The closest parallels to the Ovaören Late Bronze Age painted pottery are found in the Late Bronze Age layers of Tarsus-Gözlükule LBII, Yumuktepe VII–V, Kilise Tepe IIa–c, Oluz Höyük 7B and Soli Höyük. The painted tradition found in the Late Bronze Age layers at Ovaören reveals significant results for the origin and chronology of regional developments in Hittite pottery.
We would like to state that it is a great honor for us to take part in this work, which was gifted to Prof. Erol Altınsapan who dedicated life to Anatolian Art History researches.
Canals in Context of Agricultural Colonization
In the Assyrian history, significant hydraulic systems were built in dry agricultural regions and areas where the precipitation regime was irregular for the purpose of increasing efficiency and reshaping the landscape of the existing cities. Both archaeological and philological data give information about the different stages and technologies of the hydraulic enterprises in Assyria. The construction of the regional water channels, which began with the transfer of the capital city to Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta by Tukulti-Ninurta I (1245-1207 BC), in the Middle Assyrian Period, peaked with the construction of the large-scale irrigation channels with Sennacherib (704-681 BC) in the Neo Assyrian period. Information is given about the construction of the Khinis Canal in the Bavian Inscription from the period of Sennacherib. The water canals constructed especially around the new cities and capital cities enabled economic development in the areas with dense population. The construction of the water channels was not only limited to Assyria; it was also carried on in surrounding cities and provincial centers. The water channels built for irrigation purposes in respect of their primary functions became the reminders of the power of the Assyrian kings by assuming the role of royal propaganda in the ideological terms. Hence, new landscapes were created with the irrigation systems built in the country.
Melet Irmağı’nın Ordu ili sınırları içerisinden geçtiği havzanın arkeolojik potansiyelinin araştırılmasını amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmaların başlatılmasındaki en önemli sebeplerin başında, 2010 yılından itibaren Ordu-Kurul Kalesi’nde yürüttüğümüz kazı çalışmaları gelmektedir. Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi ve Anadolu arkeolojisi için son derece önemli bilgiler sunan Kurul Kalesi, bölge tarihinin Hellenistik döneme ait askeri, siyasi, dini ve kültürel geçmişini ortaya koyan veriler sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, Ordu il sınırları içerisindeki sınırlı arkeolojik veriler, sahil kesiminde paleolitik döneme tarihlenen taş aletler bilinmekle birlikte, tarihi kaynaklar ve arkeolojik veriler esasında MÖ. 7. yüzyıldan daha öncesine ulaşmamaktadır.
of Erzurum under the framework of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline
Archaeological Salvage Excavations Project a total of seventeen Late Iron Age burials were unearthed. These burials considered in this study comprise twelve simple inhumations and five pithos burials.
Stone cist graves appeared at the end of Late Chalcolithic Period and beginning of the Early Bronze Age I in Southeastern Anatolia. This burial custom expanded in Southern Mesopotamia especially in Middle Bronze Age. Aşağı Salat Early Bronze Age I cemetery is among that kind of cemeteries revealed in Upper Tigris region. It has been recognized that Aşağı Salat stone cist graves have similar characteristics with the other graves dated to this period. Pottery recovered from the graves has similarities with Ninive 5 forms. Considering the pottery finds Aşağı Salat cemetery could be dated to the earlier period of Early Bronze Age I between 3200-3000 B.C.
Aşağı Salat Early Bronze I cemetery widens our perception with its similarities and differences to the other cemeteries of the same period. Aşağı Salat cemetery will have a distinctive place for the comparison of the burial customs of the Early Bronze Age I period.