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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Altin Tepe |
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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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100 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Izmir |
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District:
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Menderes |
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Village:
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Merkez |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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EBA I |
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| Location: It is located northwest of Torbali; 3 km southeast of the Cumaovasi District as the crow flies; south of the Izmir Province. The Izmir-Aydin railway is 80 m east of the mound. Code R 5/11. |
| Geography and Environment: The Tahtali Stream (also known as Bulgurca) formed by the Degirmen and Delibogan streams joining on the north of the mound flows to the east of the mound. The mound stands on a low ridge in a narrow valley. The cultural deposit of the mound is ca. 6 m thick. It has a vertical section extending in the east-west direction [Kaptan 1999:fig.1]. The settlement is ca. 10 ha. wide. The mound is a vineyard at present. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered during the Ionia and Datça Peninsula Archaeological Survey conducted by N. Tuna in 1984 [Tuna 1986:215]. The slags collected during the survey were analyzed by E. Kaptan [Kaptan 1999:45-51]. |
| Stratigraphy: Besides EBA pottery; pottery of the Iron Age was collected. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: Although it is reported that there are sherds datable to the third millennium BC on the eastern slope; no detailed information is provided about these finds. Other finds; even tough uncertain; belong to the Late Chalcolithic Age-EBA I settlements [Kaptan 1999:47; draw.1; fig.3] Metal Finds: The presence of metal slags on the eastern side proves that they used to process copper. E. Kaptan states that the metal works are flawless [Kaptan 1999:46] and presumably a melting process of copper with sulphur was employed. Ovens capable of heating at 1127 degrees centigrade should have been used since the melting was not performed in crucibles. Ground stone: Limited number of tools and débitage in flint was found. A blade published is suggested to be used for cutting purposes [Kaptan 1999:drw.2; fig.4]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is understood that the site had been inhabited from the Late Chalcolithic Age and intensively occupied in the EBA I. E.Kaptan trusts that an excavation to be carried out at Altin Tepe could reveal a high tech mining industry [Kaptan 1999:47]. The slags diminishing on the surface towards the west of the mound can not exactly be dated now. |
