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.
The Central Anatolia Region, which serves as a transition point with its
strategic location in th... more The Central Anatolia Region, which serves as a transition point with its strategic location in the center of Anatolia, has hosted a lot of cultures throughout historyand this area of high plateaus formed the core region of the Hittite State since the Late Bronze Age. The Hittite state, which had achieved political unification of a large part of Anatolia from the 17th century BC onward, lost power in the process, called the “crisis years” between the late 13th century and early 12th century BC in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; this process culminated in the withdrawal of the Hittite state from the historical arena, thus initiating a new but unstable period for the lands in question. The Early Iron Age, the beginning of this period that is called the Dark Age due to the lack of written sources, is represented by a process in which material culture changed, by migrations and by rural communities living in a dispersed way. The Middle and Late Iron Age, in which figures of power were seen and political actors increased in the Central Anatolian Region after a long time, witnessed the struggles of powers such as Phrygian, Tabal, Assyrian and Urartian first, and then Lydia, Medes and Persians. This contest for domination effort determined the historical process of the region. In this study, the process from the end of the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Iron Age in Central Anatolia is examined in the light of written sources and archaeological evidence, and the study is intended to make a general assessment on the process undergone by the region.
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.
MORS IMMATURA. IN THE SHADOW OF AMANUS IN MEMORIAM HAYRİYE AKIL, 2020
Tatarlı Höyük, which is one of the largest settlements in Ovalık Cilicia, is located 24 km east o... more Tatarlı Höyük, which is one of the largest settlements in Ovalık Cilicia, is located 24 km east of Ceyhan district of Adana province and 5 km north of Mustafabeyli town of the district. Especially, the settlement, which reflects the rich culture of the 2nd millennium BC and with its monumental architectural elements, lost its wealth during the Hellenistic Period and became a provincial settlement. The finds uncovered in the Hellenistic Period layer with two architectural phases (TH. IIa-IIb) in the mound, together with the hearths and platforms found on the edges of the quarries and the walls, indicate the workshop function of these structures. While the pyramidal, conical and discoid shaped weights and spindle whorls, as well as bone tools, obtained from these spaces, proves the textile production in Tatarlı Höyük; production-oriented function. The millstones, which are the subject of this article and which are associated with cereal activities, were also found in different areas of the settlement. layer (TH. II a-b). The 7 Olynthus mills, 3 of which were uncovered in Tatarli during the years 2011-2018, belong to the I₁ group according to R. Frankel’s classification, Phase II (TH. IIa). According to the data obtained from the excavations in 2007, the Hellenistic Period was dated between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC; ceramics constitute the Hellenistic ceramic repertoire of the settlement. Based on these data, it is assumed that the early phase of the Hellenistic Period (TH. IIb) started in the 3rd century BC. At the end of the 2nd century BC, which was the end of the IIb phase, the settlement began to shrink and the architectural orientation changed during the IIa phase, resulting in simpler and sloppy structures. With this period, a large number of loom weights and spindle whorls recovered in phase IIa structures and workshops led to the assumption that towards the end of the period, Tatarlı Höyük turned to an economy based entirely on textile production. In parallel with this idea, the transformation of the settlement to a textile-based subsistence economy, which has diminished the grain-producing character, should have rendered the Olynthus mills which have standardized the grain production jobs dysfunctional.
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.
Aşağı Salat Höyük, one of the Neo-Assyrian settlements on the Tigris River bank is located in Bis... more Aşağı Salat Höyük, one of the Neo-Assyrian settlements on the Tigris River bank is located in Bismil, Diyarbakır, Turkey. In the scope of “Salvage Project of the Archaeological Heritage of the Ilısu Dam Reservoir”, during five seasons carried out in 2000-2002 and 2009-2010 under the scientific directorship of S. Yücel Şenyurt, 7 archaeological layers were discovered at the höyük. A Neo-Assyrian grave (M-29) that was unearthed in 2001 is remarkable with its noteworthy finds. A Glass Horse Rhyton, one of Ar- chaeological artifacts from the grave, a unique find dated to the end of the 7 th century BC constitutes the subject of this paper. Although the rhyton is not a product of the Neo-Assyrian glass industry, it is remarkable as it is a prototype for the later glass rhytons usually defined as Achaemenid artifacts.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The Central Anatolia Region, which serves as a transition point with its
strategic location in th... more The Central Anatolia Region, which serves as a transition point with its strategic location in the center of Anatolia, has hosted a lot of cultures throughout historyand this area of high plateaus formed the core region of the Hittite State since the Late Bronze Age. The Hittite state, which had achieved political unification of a large part of Anatolia from the 17th century BC onward, lost power in the process, called the “crisis years” between the late 13th century and early 12th century BC in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; this process culminated in the withdrawal of the Hittite state from the historical arena, thus initiating a new but unstable period for the lands in question. The Early Iron Age, the beginning of this period that is called the Dark Age due to the lack of written sources, is represented by a process in which material culture changed, by migrations and by rural communities living in a dispersed way. The Middle and Late Iron Age, in which figures of power were seen and political actors increased in the Central Anatolian Region after a long time, witnessed the struggles of powers such as Phrygian, Tabal, Assyrian and Urartian first, and then Lydia, Medes and Persians. This contest for domination effort determined the historical process of the region. In this study, the process from the end of the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Iron Age in Central Anatolia is examined in the light of written sources and archaeological evidence, and the study is intended to make a general assessment on the process undergone by the region.
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.
MORS IMMATURA. IN THE SHADOW OF AMANUS IN MEMORIAM HAYRİYE AKIL, 2020
Tatarlı Höyük, which is one of the largest settlements in Ovalık Cilicia, is located 24 km east o... more Tatarlı Höyük, which is one of the largest settlements in Ovalık Cilicia, is located 24 km east of Ceyhan district of Adana province and 5 km north of Mustafabeyli town of the district. Especially, the settlement, which reflects the rich culture of the 2nd millennium BC and with its monumental architectural elements, lost its wealth during the Hellenistic Period and became a provincial settlement. The finds uncovered in the Hellenistic Period layer with two architectural phases (TH. IIa-IIb) in the mound, together with the hearths and platforms found on the edges of the quarries and the walls, indicate the workshop function of these structures. While the pyramidal, conical and discoid shaped weights and spindle whorls, as well as bone tools, obtained from these spaces, proves the textile production in Tatarlı Höyük; production-oriented function. The millstones, which are the subject of this article and which are associated with cereal activities, were also found in different areas of the settlement. layer (TH. II a-b). The 7 Olynthus mills, 3 of which were uncovered in Tatarli during the years 2011-2018, belong to the I₁ group according to R. Frankel’s classification, Phase II (TH. IIa). According to the data obtained from the excavations in 2007, the Hellenistic Period was dated between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC; ceramics constitute the Hellenistic ceramic repertoire of the settlement. Based on these data, it is assumed that the early phase of the Hellenistic Period (TH. IIb) started in the 3rd century BC. At the end of the 2nd century BC, which was the end of the IIb phase, the settlement began to shrink and the architectural orientation changed during the IIa phase, resulting in simpler and sloppy structures. With this period, a large number of loom weights and spindle whorls recovered in phase IIa structures and workshops led to the assumption that towards the end of the period, Tatarlı Höyük turned to an economy based entirely on textile production. In parallel with this idea, the transformation of the settlement to a textile-based subsistence economy, which has diminished the grain-producing character, should have rendered the Olynthus mills which have standardized the grain production jobs dysfunctional.
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.
Aşağı Salat Höyük, one of the Neo-Assyrian settlements on the Tigris River bank is located in Bis... more Aşağı Salat Höyük, one of the Neo-Assyrian settlements on the Tigris River bank is located in Bismil, Diyarbakır, Turkey. In the scope of “Salvage Project of the Archaeological Heritage of the Ilısu Dam Reservoir”, during five seasons carried out in 2000-2002 and 2009-2010 under the scientific directorship of S. Yücel Şenyurt, 7 archaeological layers were discovered at the höyük. A Neo-Assyrian grave (M-29) that was unearthed in 2001 is remarkable with its noteworthy finds. A Glass Horse Rhyton, one of Ar- chaeological artifacts from the grave, a unique find dated to the end of the 7 th century BC constitutes the subject of this paper. Although the rhyton is not a product of the Neo-Assyrian glass industry, it is remarkable as it is a prototype for the later glass rhytons usually defined as Achaemenid artifacts.
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.
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 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.
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.
Uploads
Papers by İlkay Aklan
strategic location in the center of Anatolia, has hosted a lot of cultures throughout historyand this area of high plateaus formed the core region of the Hittite State since the Late Bronze Age. The Hittite state, which had achieved political unification of a large part of Anatolia from the 17th century BC onward, lost power in the process, called the “crisis years” between the late 13th century and early 12th century BC in the Eastern
Mediterranean Basin; this process culminated in the withdrawal of the Hittite state from the historical arena, thus initiating a new but unstable period for the lands in question. The Early Iron Age, the beginning of this period that is called the Dark Age due to the lack of written sources, is represented by a process in which material culture changed, by migrations and by rural communities living in a dispersed way. The Middle and Late Iron Age, in which figures of power were seen and political actors increased in the Central Anatolian Region after a long time, witnessed the struggles of powers such as Phrygian, Tabal, Assyrian and Urartian first, and then Lydia, Medes and Persians. This contest for domination effort determined the historical process of the region. In this study, the process
from the end of the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Iron Age in Central Anatolia is examined in the light of written sources and archaeological evidence, and the study is intended to make a general assessment on the process undergone by the region.
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.
district of Adana province and 5 km north of Mustafabeyli town of the district. Especially, the settlement,
which reflects the rich culture of the 2nd millennium BC and with its monumental architectural elements,
lost its wealth during the Hellenistic Period and became a provincial settlement. The finds uncovered in
the Hellenistic Period layer with two architectural phases (TH. IIa-IIb) in the mound, together with the
hearths and platforms found on the edges of the quarries and the walls, indicate the workshop function of
these structures. While the pyramidal, conical and discoid shaped weights and spindle whorls, as well as
bone tools, obtained from these spaces, proves the textile production in Tatarlı Höyük; production-oriented
function. The millstones, which are the subject of this article and which are associated with cereal activities,
were also found in different areas of the settlement. layer (TH. II a-b). The 7 Olynthus mills, 3 of which were
uncovered in Tatarli during the years 2011-2018, belong to the I₁ group according to R. Frankel’s classification,
Phase II (TH. IIa). According to the data obtained from the excavations in 2007, the Hellenistic Period was
dated between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC; ceramics constitute the Hellenistic ceramic repertoire of the
settlement. Based on these data, it is assumed that the early phase of the Hellenistic Period (TH. IIb) started
in the 3rd century BC. At the end of the 2nd century BC, which was the end of the IIb phase, the settlement
began to shrink and the architectural orientation changed during the IIa phase, resulting in simpler and
sloppy structures. With this period, a large number of loom weights and spindle whorls recovered in phase
IIa structures and workshops led to the assumption that towards the end of the period, Tatarlı Höyük turned
to an economy based entirely on textile production. In parallel with this idea, the transformation of the
settlement to a textile-based subsistence economy, which has diminished the grain-producing character,
should have rendered the Olynthus mills which have standardized the grain production jobs dysfunctional.
Papers II by İlkay Aklan
strategic location in the center of Anatolia, has hosted a lot of cultures throughout historyand this area of high plateaus formed the core region of the Hittite State since the Late Bronze Age. The Hittite state, which had achieved political unification of a large part of Anatolia from the 17th century BC onward, lost power in the process, called the “crisis years” between the late 13th century and early 12th century BC in the Eastern
Mediterranean Basin; this process culminated in the withdrawal of the Hittite state from the historical arena, thus initiating a new but unstable period for the lands in question. The Early Iron Age, the beginning of this period that is called the Dark Age due to the lack of written sources, is represented by a process in which material culture changed, by migrations and by rural communities living in a dispersed way. The Middle and Late Iron Age, in which figures of power were seen and political actors increased in the Central Anatolian Region after a long time, witnessed the struggles of powers such as Phrygian, Tabal, Assyrian and Urartian first, and then Lydia, Medes and Persians. This contest for domination effort determined the historical process of the region. In this study, the process
from the end of the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Iron Age in Central Anatolia is examined in the light of written sources and archaeological evidence, and the study is intended to make a general assessment on the process undergone by the region.
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.
district of Adana province and 5 km north of Mustafabeyli town of the district. Especially, the settlement,
which reflects the rich culture of the 2nd millennium BC and with its monumental architectural elements,
lost its wealth during the Hellenistic Period and became a provincial settlement. The finds uncovered in
the Hellenistic Period layer with two architectural phases (TH. IIa-IIb) in the mound, together with the
hearths and platforms found on the edges of the quarries and the walls, indicate the workshop function of
these structures. While the pyramidal, conical and discoid shaped weights and spindle whorls, as well as
bone tools, obtained from these spaces, proves the textile production in Tatarlı Höyük; production-oriented
function. The millstones, which are the subject of this article and which are associated with cereal activities,
were also found in different areas of the settlement. layer (TH. II a-b). The 7 Olynthus mills, 3 of which were
uncovered in Tatarli during the years 2011-2018, belong to the I₁ group according to R. Frankel’s classification,
Phase II (TH. IIa). According to the data obtained from the excavations in 2007, the Hellenistic Period was
dated between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC; ceramics constitute the Hellenistic ceramic repertoire of the
settlement. Based on these data, it is assumed that the early phase of the Hellenistic Period (TH. IIb) started
in the 3rd century BC. At the end of the 2nd century BC, which was the end of the IIb phase, the settlement
began to shrink and the architectural orientation changed during the IIa phase, resulting in simpler and
sloppy structures. With this period, a large number of loom weights and spindle whorls recovered in phase
IIa structures and workshops led to the assumption that towards the end of the period, Tatarlı Höyük turned
to an economy based entirely on textile production. In parallel with this idea, the transformation of the
settlement to a textile-based subsistence economy, which has diminished the grain-producing character,
should have rendered the Olynthus mills which have standardized the grain production jobs dysfunctional.