©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Hassek Höyük

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Hassek Höyük
Type:
 Mound and Cemetery
Altitude:
 475 m
Region:
 Southeastern Anatolia
Province:
 Sanliurfa
District:
 Siverek
Village:
 Yukari Tillakin
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Late

     

Location: Before it was inundated by Atatürk Dam; the site lied between Yukari Tillakin Village and Asagi Tillakin Village of Siverek District of Urfa; approximately 1 km north of Adiyaman-Urfa Road; south of Euphrates [Behm-Blancke 1987b:117]. The location code of the site is S 52 / 18.
Geography and Environment: The flat mound is on a terrace that descends evenly; on one of the old branches of Euphrates. Although it was damaged due to erosion; the site is reported to be covering an area of 350x150 m before the erosion [Behm-Blancke 1987b:117]. According to the observations on the animal bones; bones of goat; pig; and cattle are more than sheep in the Late Chalcolithic Age of Hassek. This suggests the existence of trees and bushes around the site. However; partly wooded areas; seen today near Euphrates; are not thought to be so broad in the Late Chalcolithic Age [Behm-Blancke et al. 1981:89]. Sources of clay; used in pottery making; and basalt; limestone; used for buildings; are located very near the site. The fresh water spring; approximately 100 m south-southwest of the site; is thought to be used as a water source by the inhabitants of Hassek Höyük [Behm-Blancke et al. 1981:93].
History:
Research and Excavation: The site was discovered during the 1977 Lower Euphrates Survey Project conducted by M. Özdogan [Özdogan 1977:148]. The excavations were conducted jointly by German Archaeology Institute at Istanbul and the University of Munich under the leadership of B. Hrouda and M.R. Behm-Blancke in 1978; and lasted until 1986. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: There are two main periods; Late Chalcolithic Age and EBA; at Hassek Höyük. The earliest building level (Level 5A-C); founded on virgin soil; dates to the Late Chalcolithic Age. The upper levels (Levels 4-1) date to the EBA I / II [Behm-Blancke 1981:104-105; Behm-Blancke et al. 1984:34-53]. Destruction traces were observed near the center of the settlement; south of the excavated area [Behm-Blancke 1988a:72].
Small Finds: Architecture: Late Uruk settlement of Hassek Höyük is comprehended to be surrounded by a fortification wall that is more than 40 m long and 2 m wide. Although the main settlement is within the fortification; the structural remains out of the wall hint the existence of a "lower city" besides the acropolis. The plan and construction of the lower city structures are observed to be careless compared to the acropolis. A gate was found at the western section of the fortification wall; and a small courtyard; a second gate; and a pebble-paved; narrow corridor were revealed adjacent to the wall at the same place. The Late Chalcolithic structures inside the fortification wall are represented by the typical administrative Uruk buildings with assembly rooms; reception rooms; and food storages. The three-winged structure at the center (House 1) has Uruk architecture characteristics and is observed to be built of mud-brick over stone foundation. The center of this structure was damaged in EBA by another building that cut it (House 1) and lowered to the level of the floor. Two hearths looking towards west were revealed at the northern wing of the structure. The floor of the easternmost small square space at the northern section of the structure is observed to be paved with pebbles. A water channel is located at its corner; which is thought to be draining rain water. Approximately 2.70 m high walls at the southern wing of the structure are observed to be serving as fortification as well. The entrance is located at the southeastern corner. To the east is a grill planned structure with six parallel walls. The structures (No:2 and 3) lack stone foundations; but consist of mud-brick walls; and they have typical Uruk architectural characteristics. The 15x7.5 m House No:3 is an assembly hall. The structures; containing niches; hearths; doors across the niches; workshops; kitchens; and storages; are observed to be damaged by fire; which on the other hand preserved the structural elements; sherds that were used within the buildings; and small finds [Behm-Blancke 1984:166; 1985:182-183; 1987a:140; Behm-Blancke et al. 1984:34-40]. Pottery: The Late Chalcolithic Age pottery inventory of Hassek Höyük mainly consists of typical Uruk pottery of Southern Mesopotomia. Most of the pithoi; bowls and beakers among the cooking-pots; reserved-slipped; incised decorated big jars; as well as beveled rim bowls (Glockentöpfe) and conical bowls (Blumentöpfe); spouted jugs; Uruk bottles; red and gray slipped wares were recovered inside the structures damaged by fire. Forms are big; small bowls and deep bowls; spouted and nonspouted pitchers and pithoi; fruit-stands known as caliches; and round; ring-pedestals used as pot-stands [Behm-Blancke et al. 1981:31-82]. Clay: Various clay finds such as conical nails used as mosaic decoration in Uruk architecture; clay slabs which are stamped by these nails; and wall ornaments consisting of relief decorated clay slabs. Another important group is clay objects in various shapes; which are thought to be used for calculation in trade [Behm-Blancke 1984:167; 1987a:142; 1989:73-83]. Chipped Stone: The raw material of chipped stone industry of Hassek Höyük is flintstone. A very small amount of obsidian blade; core; and waste pieces were found. There are various flintstone tools such as blade; kratzer; perforator; stichel; and denticulater. Cores and many wastes were also recovered. (Modified traced???) blades are observed to be more than retouched blades. The storage finds at House No:3 consist of 18 cm long flintstone blades and 30 flintstone cores. According to the analyses; obsidian might be brought to Hassek Höyük from the sources around Çavuslar and Nemrut Mountain in Bingöl [Otte-Behm-Blancke 1992:165-166; Pernicka 1992:131]. Ground Stone: Many grinding stones; geometrical decorated cylindrical seal made of frit; stamp seal decorated with leaf patterns made of black stone; stone spindle-whorls; and tips were recovered. Human Remains: Four graves; dating to the Late Uruk settlement; were recovered. One of them is observed to be belonging to a 2-3 years old child; the other to a 6-months baby; and the other two belonged to a 40-50 years old couple. Three skeletons were found within the jars or pithoi; and the other one was found to be damaged in a storage pit. Traces of red paint were observed near the head of the child skeleton [Parsche-Ziegelmayer 1992:78-81]. Fauna: Hassek Höyük inhabitants were stockbreeding according to the observations on the animal bones. Birds and fish were hunted; but they are not very important for the nourishment of the settlers. River shells near Euphrates are thought to be collected not for nourishment but as industrical tools. Wild sheep; goat; cattle; various types of deers; and does were also hunted. Pig (Sus domesticus); cattle (Bos taurus); and sheep-goat are observed to be domesticated. Dog; donkey; doe; and rabbit bones were also recovered [Behm-Blancke et al. 1981:88-90; Boessneck 1992:58-70]. Flora: There are not many floral remains recovered from Hassek Höyük: Wild plants; fruit and vegetables such as olive; grape as well as barley; chickpea; lentil are observed to be existent [Gregor et al. 1992:45-47]. Other: A smal bird-shaped ornament object (Unio Crassus) was found within the Late Uruk mud-brick deposits [Behm-Blancke 1986:91].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: Hassek Höyük is a settlement of the Lower Euphrates Basin; founded during the Uruk colonization at the end of the 4th Millennium BC; in the Late Chalcolithic Age. It is dated to the second half of the 4th Millennium BC by 14C and TL analyses. The 14C dating of charcoal is approximately 3350 Ğ 3250 BC; while TL dating of burnt flintstone is approximately 3413+-181 BC. The site was deserted after the earthquake-like collapse caused by conflagration; but it was settled again in EBA [Behm-Blancke 1986:94; 1987:144; Willkomm 1992:135-139].


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