|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arapkir Çayi |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Rock Shelter |
|
Altitude:
|
m |
|
Region:
|
Eastern Anatolia |
|
Province:
|
Elazig |
|
District:
|
Agin |
|
Village:
|
|
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
ÜP |
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: The rock-shelter site is located northwest of the city of Elazig and southwest of the town of Agin. It is 3.5 km south of the village of Hastek; 2.5 km northwest of the village of Bahattin and 250 m west of Mount Sihkiner. This rock-shelter faces the Arapkir Stream and is immediately north of the so far archaeologically unproductive Karamagara Caves. This information has been provided from a 1:100;000 map. |
| Geography and Environment: This site includes two adjacent rock-shelters that face the Arapkir Stream. They are referred to by number; 1 and 2. The deeper and narrower shelter extending 4.46 m into the rock-face is Shelter "1". This shelter is 5.50 m wide and 2.15 m high; while the larger shelter; Shelter "2" is 25.50 m wide; 2.30 m high and 2.50 m deep. Further information on this site cannot be provided because it has since been flooded by the Keban Dam Lake. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: A small excavation in conjunction with the "Keban Project" was conducted in these rock-shelters in 1969. Several test trenches were opened to determine whether a larger scale salvage excavation was necessary. A few Upper Palaeolithic tools were found immediately under the topsoil; 20 - 50 cm below the surface in Shelter "1". It is not clear whether virgin soil was reached after 50 cm. Although the soil characteristics of this rock-shelter are not reported; the soil of Shelter "2" is ashy. Excavations in this second rock-shelter were discontinued after the first 50 cm because it was poor in material culture. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: A few small burins; a scraper and backed scraper were found in Shelter "1" [Kökten 1971a:fig.17/1]. Excavations in Shelter "2" produced an obsidian blade which is yet to be dated. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
