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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Karatas Kaya Siginagi |
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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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Rock Shelter |
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Altitude:
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1000 m |
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Region:
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Eastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Elazig |
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District:
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Merkez |
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Village:
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Meseliköy |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: It is located next to the Elazig-Pertek motorway; some 15 km north-northeast of the Elazig Province. This rock shelter was lying on the side of a rocky block which stands like an island in the midst of the Keban Dam at present [Kökten 1974:pl.7/1-2]. |
| Geography and Environment: K. Kökten reports the presence of a small cave and a long and narrow rock shelter underlying this cave. The cave and shelter are open towards the south [Kökten 1971:15;pic.14/1]. No information was provided about the dimensions of the shelter. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Kiliç Kökten discovered both this rock-shelter and the adjacent cave north of the city of Elazig during one of his surveys of the regions expected to be flooded by the Keban Dam Lake. In 1969; he opened a 1.5 x 6 m test trench in the first terrace at the mouth of the shelter. In the following years; 1970; 1971 and 1972; this test trench was expanded to 2.5x10 m. The first level below the surface; which is 125 cm thick; dates to the Bronze Age. Between 125 and 350 cm below the surface is the second layer from which many Upper Palaeolithic tools were recovered. This layer is approximately 220 cm thick. The excavation continued to 400 cm below the surface and revealed that the underlying silt and sand layer was virgin soil and completely void of artifacts. Perhaps the most interesting find within the second layer was a hearth with a setting of three stones. The large stone slab; which may or may not have been intentionally placed in the front part of the oven; might have functioned as a fire-shield [Kökten 1972:fig. 4/2; 9. 10; Kökten 1974:fig. 7-9; Kökten 1971:fig. 6-7]. |
| Stratigraphy: Bedrock was reached at 4 m depth; revealing EBA level at 110-125 cm depth followed by an upper level of the Palaeolithic Age (Pls see. Harmankaya-Tanindi 1996:Karatas Kaya Siginagi) It is reported by K.Kökten that the site had not been inhabited during any period between those ages. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: No detailed information was provided by K. Kökten about the pottery industry of upper levels. It is impossible to achieve any dating from the completed drawing of a teapot rim published. Chipped Stone: EBA levels yielded arrowheads; both sides being retouched; and flake tools in flint as well as blades in obsidian [Kökten 1976:pl.16]. Ground Stone: The 1972 excavation revealed fragment of a bracelet made of stone [Kökten 1976:3]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: K. Kökten claims that the site is a seasonal camp site; used for summer; of the Kalecik settlement nearby [Kökten 1974:4]. It is impossible to achieve any dating as no further information was provided. For dating interpretation of K.Kökten has been taken into consideration. |
