©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Kuriki Höyük

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Kuriki Höyük
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 m
Region:
 Southeastern Anatolia
Province:
 Batman
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Oymatas
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Late

     

Location: This site is 1.1 km southwest of Oymataş Village of Merkez District of Batman City. It is built on the cross section of Batman River and Tigris River. The mound contains 2 hills approximately 70 m apart, namely Kuriki 1 and Kuriki 2 [Genç et al. 2011.142-143].
Geography and Environment: The mound is built on a dominant position over the surrounding areas where water sources are plenty and the land is wide and fertile. Batman River which is flowing from the northwest to the south merges with Tigris in the south and the river continues to flow from northeast. Thus Batman River and Tigris River flow around the Kuriki Mound's both hills like a bow. Kuriki 1 where the first studies are carried out is 85 by 95 m. The mound is 3.5 m high over the plain level in the north and northeast, 8 m high over the river level in the south and west [Genç et al. 2011:143-144]. The studies carried out in 2012 show that both mounds cover an area of 250x100 m [Genç et al. 2014:297].
History:
Research and Excavation: Under the scope of Ilisu and HES Project the excavation for the mound is initiated in 2009 by members of University of Dumlupinar, Cumhuriyet University, University of Ankara and University of Florence [Genç et al. 2011:142].
Stratigraphy: In Kuriki 1 Mound where the initial research was focused 4 layers of settlement is encountered. The oldest settlement is aged as Late 4th Millennium Ğ Early 3rd Millennium before reaching the main soil. The layers are numbered from up to down: I, IIA-B, III, IVA-B. Layer IV is dated as Late 4th Ğ Early 3rd Millennium BC; Layers II and III are dated as the second half of 1st Millennium BC and 2nd Century AC. There is a long period of inactivity after transition period to Late Chalcolithic/EBA (phases IVA-B) and it must have been inhabited again during the Iron Age. This settlement must have continued until 2nd century AD [Genç et al. 2011:144, 147]. During the first two seasons of archaeological work, the archaeologists were able to define a preliminary chronological sequence of the site's occupation, resumed on this scheme 3: - Level 0 (Areas A & B): late/modern pits. - Level I (Areas A & B): late occupation of the stone buildings. - Level II a-b (Areas A & B): main occupation of the so-called Parthian Han (Area A) and the stone buildings of the Area B (ca. middle of the 2nd cent. BCEĞearly 3rd cent. CE). Level IIa corresponds with the foundation of the buildings. Level IIb corresponds with the life of the buildings. - Level III (Area A, Sounding 1-4): occupation phase that precedes the Parthian Han dated back to the Late Iron Age (Achaemenid-Hellenistic period, approximately sec. half of the 1st millennium BC) with probable sporadic traces of mid to late Iron Age occupation, not better identified. - Level IV a-b (Area A, Soundings 1-4 & B, Sounding 5): excavated for 5m deep and divided in two main sub-Levels: - Level IVa (sub-phases IVa1, IVa2): dated preliminarily back to the transition between Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age (Late 4th Ğ Early 3rd millennia BCE); - Level IVb (sub-phases IVb1, IVb2, IVb3, IVb4 until the virgin soil): dated back to the Late Chalcolithic (approximately from half of the 4th millennium BCE) [Genç et al. 2012.464-465]. As the results of the 2011 campaign, a stratigraphy that is parallel with Kuriki Höyük 1 was defined in Area B in Kuriki Höyük B. Although, the natural soil has not yet been reached, the identified levels as follows: - O Modern pits - Level I: Surface finds and pits - Level II: The second half of the 1st millennium BC - Level III: Late Chalcolithic - the beginning of EBA (?) [Genç 2013:230].
Small Finds: Kuriki 1 (Area A) Architecture: Two different architectural phases are encountered in Level IV. Three holes and two parallel walls erected in Northwest-Southeast direction are unearthed in the first drill. Stone walls that constitute the corners of a building are unearthed in Phase IVB. The granary which has a shape of a drinking glass is on the North corner of the trench [Genç et al. 2011:144-147]. In 2010, In details, Level IV a-2 is constituted by small stone walls and fireplaces. Probably contemporary with these structures is a cist-tomb made by slab stones and containing a 5-6 month old individual. Also the Level IV b-1 is constituted by a small stone wall. Also here traces of the beaten floor were excavated. Similar structures were dug in the previous Level IV b-2 [Genç et al. 2012:469]. During the 2012 excavation campaign carried out in Area A, architectural remains belonging to Level IV on the mound and on both slopes. An oval structure erected with mud brick walls on stone foundation was encountered on the mound. The structure consists of two wall fragments that don't join. On the southern skirts of the mound, pebble paved floor and pits were unearthed. The remains of clay, baked and unbaked mud brick fragments suggest that this area might have been used as mud brick preparation workshop. Remains belonging to Level IV were exposed on the east slope of the mound as well. These remains have two phases (namely early and late) The north and east walls of the structure belonging to the later phase were preserved. A small hearth was found inside the structure. Below this phase, the walls, remains of a pavement and a small pit belonging to the early phase were recovered [Genç et al. 2014:293-294]. In 2013, the studies carried out in Area A continued. The area containing two-phased architectural remains belonging to Level IV, which were exposed in previous season, was excavated. In this area, four building levels were determined. In building level 1, which is the uppermost level, the north and east walls of a structure were exposed. Remains of hearth were encountered inside the structure. Under the structure belonging to the building level 1, remains of a structure with stone foundation belonging to the building level 2 were found. The walls of this structure are not well preserved. Remains of pavement and a small pit could belong to the same level as well. The remains of the building level 3 were exposed on the skirts of the mound and these remains consist of wall extending parallel to each other and forming grill plan. The east section of the walls has been damaged since these remains are very close to the surface. In the building level 4, only remains of a wall were found. This wall is located immediately below the structure in grill plan found in the upper level [Genç et al. 2015:461]. In 2015, four architectural phases (IVb1-4) belonging to Late Chalcolithic were determined. The radiocarbon analyses of the carbonized seeds and bones indicate the dates of 3940-3370 BC. This time span dates Kuriki Höyük to the 3rd and 4th phase of the Regional Late Chalcolithic according to the North Mesopotamia chronology. The buildings with stone foundation belonging to the different architectural phases of Level IV were exposed in the previous season. In 2015, five ovens were found in the southeast of these buildings. The fact that the buildings have no hearth or oven makes one think that this particular section of the mound was arranged for special ovens. The ovens are aligned in the south-west direction accordance with the natural slope of the mound. The stone paved floors and plastered surfaces are well preserved despite the later pits cut these ovens. Four of these ovens are round and one is in oval shape. The floors of two ovens were encircled with a single row of stone. The rest of the round ovens are bordered with mud bricks. The floors are paved with pebbles and a few pottery sherds and they are plastered. The fire intensity can be seen on the plaster and pebbles. The round corners of the oven have become slag due to heat. A large number of material/bitumen related to petrol were recovered near and around the ovens. Some of these materials were found inside the vessels and some of them were smeared interior and exterior surfaces. The bitumen remains are very abundant. It is believed that these bitumens found especially around the ovens were used to strengthen the fire. In 2015, it is found out that the bitumens were used not only in Iron Age but also in Late Chalcolithic. While they were used to strengthen the fire in Late Chalcolithic, they were used as an isolation material on the floors of the houses in Iron Age. There are petroleum seep areas near the mound. The further researches will help us to understand which source the bitumen was obtained [Genç-Köse 2017:281-283]. Pottery: Mostly handmade painted and monochrome pottery found in Level IV [Genç et al. 2011:144-147]. As regards the pottery most of the diagnostic sherds from the deep sounding belong to a medium to coarse ware but also fine specimens have been found (Fig.7 a). Two main groups have been identified: a medium to coarse chaff and grit tempered wares, usually with inclusion of big dimensions and a fine grit and chaff (well minced fine inclusions) tempered ware, more typical of smaller and finer vessels. Within this general classification, many variants characterized by different amount and size of inclusions and several combinations between main and secondary inclusions have been noted. The sherds in coarse ware with chaff as main inclusion are the most common; the fabric contains a discrete quantity of mica and limestone. Handmade and wheel-made manufacturing techniques are known: the medium-coarse vessels are handmade and usually low fired; the fine specimens, thin walled cups, are either produced or finished with the use of the wheel. The wheel finishing has been observed also in some medium bowls with inturned rim. The surface finishing include usually burnishing or smoothing although some fragments are simply untreated; traces of scraping, and irregularity on the surface of the vessels are recurrent. Besides the common and fine wares sherds, gray burnished ware specimens have been found. The repertoire of shapes in medium to coarse wares or with grit inclusions are: hammerhead bowls, bowls with inturned rims, squat jars, jars with vertical short neck and plain rim or with everted neck; hemispherical bowls with simple rounded rim or slightly thickened on the exterior are typical shapes in fine ware [Genç et al. 2012:470]. The potsherds found during the 2013 excavations belong to Late Chalcolithic and Level IV dated to the first half of EBA and the majority of them consist of medium and coarse wares. There are also a few thin walled, well-fired sherds. These sherds are handmade and chaff tempered and generally burnished. Surface of some sherds were remained plain. Thin walled wares were produced or completed with pottery wheel. There are Niniveh V vessel forms in the upper phases of Level IV. In the lower phases, some vessel types known from Uruk Period were found. Handmade wares were recovered from all building levels [Genç et al. 2015:461]. The 2014 studies yielded various pottery types. The chaff surfaced and mineral tempered wares known from Southeast Anatolia and Northern Syria represent Late Chalcolithic wares and they consist the majority of the wares. Most of them are handmade. The wares are generally low fired and in medium and coarse quality. Regional Late Chalcolithic ware consisting of chaff-faced bowls with thickened out inverted rims and cooking pot-like vessels with carinated body can be seen in every phase except the first phase [Genç 2016:167]. In Late Chalcolithic, plant tempered chaff-faced vessels spread over a large area in Northern Mesopotamia (from South Anatolia to Northern Syria and Amuq Plain) are also cmoon in Kuriki Höyük. However, fine sand tempered vessels showing the characteristics of the south also exist. In Kuriki Höyük, the hammerhead bowls and carinated cooking pots that are typical for Late Chalcolithic 3 are abundant. The first examples of wheel made, mineral tempered Uruk type spout and pottery sherds with incised decoration (diagonal lined) were found. The sherds representing the period before Late Chalcolithic 3 such as Ubaid-like painted vessel fragments and bowls the bottom parts of which were truncated were recovered. A few painted sherds showing Ubaid characteristics and the button-shaped stamp seal were found in the lower level from the oven floor. Bowl sherds similar to EBA Niniveh V are abundant in the western slope. Handmade, chaff-faced pottery sherds dated to Late Chalcolithic found in this area are similar to the vessels recovered from the eastern slope [Genç-Köse 2017:283-284]. Clay: 5 baked earth bead found in Level IV [Genç et al. 2011:144-147]. Chipped Stone: On the east slope of the mound, a great number of chipped stone tool were recovered from both phases of Level IV [Genç et al. 2014:294]. In 2014, flintstone tools were found on the floor of the building belonging to the phase IVb1 [Genç 2016:167]. Metal: 1 bronze perforator found in Level IV [Genç et al. 2011:144-147]. Flora: Lentil and wheat remains are found at the bottom of the granary in Level IVb. The lentil and wheat are weighed as 15 which occupy only 1/371 of the granary [Genç et al. 2011:146]. The carbonized floral remains recovered from the sounding show that the silo was used to store more than one material. %70-80 percent of the identified materials are lentil (Lens culinaris). %10 percent of the remains consist of wheat species (Triticum). Among the samples, barley (Hordeum vulgare) and its wild species (H. spontaneum) and wild species of common vetch (Vicia sativa) that are generally used for animal feed were identified. The 14C analysis of the samples gave 2600-2700 BC (EBA) dates [Çakan et al. 2014:110]. Human Remains: Two fetuses are found inside the building buried under the floor in Level IVb. One of the fetuses is buried in the corner of the wall, and the other in the other end of the wall. It is determined that one of the babies is 26 weeks old and other is 28 weeks old. And in a grave from Phase IVa remains of a 5-6 month old baby are found. The flat lid stone of the sarcophagus which is surrounded by large stones is preserved. The sarcophagus is rectangular. The baby skeleton is placed in north-south direction on pebble stones in hocker position. No goods are left in the grave [Genç et al. 2011:146]. In 2010, at the Area A, below the beaten floor, a small burial pit of a newborn was excavated [Genç et al. 2012:469]. In 2012, a grave was found among the mud brick remains exposed on the southern skirts of the mound. The grave was built with mud brick fragments placed on top of each other and it is in crescent form. 5 rows of the mud brick were preserved. The grave yielded remains of an individual laid in hocker position [Genç et al. 2014:294]. In 2013, two burials were found in the eastern slope of Area A. One of these burials belongs to a juvenile inhumed in a pit. The other one hosts an individual buried in a pithos. No finds were recovered from both burials [Genç et al. 2015:462]. Kuriki 2 (Area B) Architecture: During the 2012 campaign, a large structure with mud brick walls on stone foundation belonging to Level III (Late Chalcolithic-EBA) was exposed. The structure measures about 10x8 m. The west and south walls of the structure were partially unearthed. The preserved height of the walls is about 55 m. There are traces of plaster on the walls. Two renewal phases were determined on the floor. In addition, a small hearth were found in the area in which the floor was discovered. A sounding was made in the small sized area in the northwest of the plan square. During the sounding, a small section of a structure belonging to Level III was exposed. A hearth floor paved with stone was encountered below that structure. The potsherds found in the phase of the hearth floor share similarities with Level IV wares recovered from Area A [Genç et al. 2014:294-295]. Mud brick wall remains belonging to Level III were found in Area F and G that were opened on the south slope of the mound. In Area G, two mud brick structures were determined [Genç et al. 2014:296]. In Area H, which is located on the south slope of Area B, a structure with mud brick walls erected on stone foundation was exposed. The structure measures 9x7.5 m. The structures of Level III, which were unearthed in four areas of Kuriki Mound (B, F, G and H), are alike in terms of ground plan, orientation and construction technique [Genç et al. 2014:296-297].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The preliminary study of the pottery suggests no significant difference exist between the two levels except the relative larger occurrence of fine wares in the more recent layers. Similar typology of the vessels and manufacturing techniques continue to be documented throughout the sequence attesting the existence of a local production without sensible change due to external interferences. It is difficult to give precise chronological periods to the layers of the sequence, at the moment: on the basis of comparisons with other sites, and waiting the results of the radiocarbon dates from collected samples, we can preliminary assign the repertoire to the span of time comprised approximately between mid 4th millennium BCE (maybe from Late Chalcolithic 3) and late 4th to early 3rd millennia BCE (transition between Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age-pre Ninivite 5 period). The remains of poor structures and connected facilities, together with the pottery and other kinds of objects, seems to confirm the domestic activities performed in this area and suggest some continuity in occupation during the Late Chalcolithic with a similar settlement pattern [Genç et al. 2012:470]. The 2011 excavation campaign shows that Level II occupation, which is discovered in all excavation areas, spread over a large area. It is suggested that the major occupation was settled in Kuriki Höyük 2 and around and the southern slope was used as cemetery. The size and the technique of two large structures found in Kuriki Höyük 1 indicate that this area was built for special purposes. With its architecture and small finds, Kuriki Höyük shares similarities with the regional cultures of the settlement systems in Dicle-Batman Plain [Genç 2013:233]. The palaeopathological data obtained from the skeletons found in Kuriki Höyük indicates that the inhabitants of Late Chalcolithic / EBA and 1st millennium BC settlements had similar living conditions and life styles [Açikkol Yildirim et al. 2014:207]. The result obtained during the 2013 studies as follows: The first occupation dated to Late Chalcolithic and EBA is represented by a single building level in Area B and two separate building levels with 6 sub-phases in Area A. The second occupation is dated to IA. This occupation consists of three different building levels. The vessels with groove decoration belonging to Early IA are only seen in Area A. Therefore, the first occupation was founded in Area A during IA and then occupation area extended towards both mounds and the surrounding area [Genç et al. 2015:465-466].


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