|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belentepe |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Cemetery |
|
Altitude:
|
m |
|
Region:
|
Aegean |
|
Province:
|
Mugla |
|
District:
|
Milas |
|
Village:
|
Çakiralan |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: It is situated within Çakiralan Village boundaries in Milas District of Mugla Province. |
| Geography and Environment: |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: During the public utilities' decoupage works at Yenikoy, 1 km south of the village a grave was revealed. In 2006, excavations on the grave began under the supervision of the Directorate of Milas Museum's and later carried out by Lagina excavation team. The excavations continued with a team from the Milas Museum in 2011. In 2013, 33 graves were moved to Ören Archaeopark. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: During 2008 excavations 4 EBA, 9 Late Geometric period, 19 Classic period, and 28 Hellenistic period graves were revealed. 4 EBA graves were exposed during the 2013 excavations [Özbey 2015:236]. 3 graves were revealed during the 2014 excavations [Savran-Ertürk 2016:540]. The graves, dated to EBA, consisted of very large size pithoi. Since the graves were seriously destroyed the skeletons were scattered and this avoided the identification of burial type. The terra cotta vessels found inside one of the graves, are similar to specimens previously found at Damlibogaz and Aphrodisias Pekmez Tepe of the same region, based on material, production technique, decoration qualities and vessel forms. The animal bones found inside the terra cotta vessels point out at the presence of a funeral feast tradition. The graves are particularly important due to suggesting the first settlement at Belentepe dates to Late Bronze Age [Tirpan-Sögüt (Z. Gider) 2010:516-517]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
