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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Tavsan Adasi |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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0 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Aydin |
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District:
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Söke |
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Village:
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Tavsan Adasi |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: The mound lies northwest of Aydin; 10 km northwest of Didim; north of the mouth of Mersinli stream at the Aegean shore. It is located right across Ministry of Environment and Forestry Recreation Area; on an islandÑ that used to be a peninsula until recentlyÑ 80 m from the coast line; today. |
| Geography and Environment: The island measures 100 m in the northwest- southeast direction; 50 m in the northeast-southwest direction and 8 m in height. The profile of the settlement became visible as they were worn by the waves along the coast. The small mound lies in the middle of the island. Stone walls on the lower terraces of the mound can be traced from time to time due to erosion caused by waves. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The excavations and surveys in Tavsan Island under the scope of Didyma Excavations are carried out by Furtwängler. |
| Stratigraphy: During the excavations carried out in the island, 7 layers have been identified. TA7 Ottoman Period TA6 Late Antiquity / Early Byzantine TA5 Archaic Period TA4 Late Palace Period of Crete TA3 Old Palace Period of Crete and Miletus 3 TA2 EBA - MBA TA1 Chalcolithic |
| Small Finds: Tavsan Island 4 (TA4): Architecture: The studies carried out on the east of the island, in the two-phased large structure; which consists of rectangular shaped rooms; belonging to the Late Palace Period of Crete (the areas of D17-D19, C17-C18) were continued in 2010 as well. It is understood that this structure belong to the typical two-storeyed Cretan city house. The first storey consists of magazines and workshops, the second storey is constituted mudbrick. Pottery: The archaeological findings belongs to South and East Aegean Minoan civilisation. There are no finds which bear Anatolian characteristics. As in Miletus, imported (in some cases high quality of wares) and local "Minoan" wares are common. These wares are related to the phases of Crete MMIII/SMIa and Miletus 4a. Among the pottery assemblage, the unique rock crystal bowl with sailing boat depiction found in 2009, intact bowls and a large "mixed vase" are the important ones. Some of the vessels bear Linear A writing symbols which were placed before the firing process. The findings of Tavsan Island gives information about the existence of an important place of production and trade in South Aegean world. The layers excavated this year indicate that the structure has been damaged due to tsunami. Tavsan Island 3 (TA3): Architecture: In the areas of C10-C13 and B13, a large building complex; which has been excavated since 2008; was exposed. The room arranged in similar way indicate a central planning. The mudbrick walls border the rooms which are located close to each other (aproxx. 50 square meters). Pottery: The vessels (especially kamares sherds, typical cups and bowls and cooking vessels) are related to Old Palace Period of Crete (MMIb/MMII) and Miletus 3. On the contrary of Miletus, the finds of Tavsan Adasi doesn't bear Anatolian characteristics. Other: Located in Area B13, the workshop which contains a deep, large oven is particularly noteworthy. The evidences indicating metallurgy such as a double-axe casting mould were encountered in the same room. Minoan type spindle whorls, loom weights and dark pink mussel shells point outh the existence of textile production. Based on the stratigraphy and architecture, it could be said that there are two phases. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
