|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Panaztepe |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Slope Settlement |
|
Altitude:
|
55 m |
|
Region:
|
Aegean |
|
Province:
|
Izmir |
|
District:
|
Menemen |
|
Village:
|
Kesik |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
EBA III |
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: It lies on the northeastern slope of a high hill extending to the west of the Kesik Village; northwest of the Seyrek Sub-District; 13 km west of Menemen; northwest of Izmir Province. |
| Geography and Environment: It is located on the eastern part of a group of high hills on a flat plain filled with the alluvium of the Gediz River; far from the Aegean Sea. It is claimed that Panaztepe used to be a peninsula; even an island; during the third and second millennia BC. It is certain that the Aegean Sea used to approach to the inland Anatolia through big bays. As these bays were filled with alluvium in time; port cities like Panaztepe lost their attraction for trade. When the sea trade was terminated; those cities lost their significance and disappeared. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The excavations conducted at Panaztepe included in the archaeological literature with its cemetery finds recovered during the illicit diggings. The archaeological excavations were started in 1985 by a team under the directorship of A. Erkanal-Öktü from Hacettepe University; Department of Archaeology. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: It is noted that Panaztepe took its place in the history as a port city both at the end of EBA and during the second millennium BC. The settlement was abandoned after a while and arrived to the present day with a small Byzantine settlement. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Remains of EBA were revealed in the lowest level on the eastern slope of the hill. The structure identified by A. Erkenal as Structure C is the best to define the settlement [Erkanal (A) 2000:281:plan 1]. As a result of the 1998 excavation; it is reported to measure 6 m in width and 14.7 m in length. This long structure houses three rooms. It is observed that it has a lot of building levels and the lowest building level underwent a fire. There is a hearth in the southern room. The substructure of the walls is stone and the superstructure is mudbrick. The amazing thing is the plus sign on the mudbricks. A. Erkenal assumes that this sign was made to hold the mudbrick and the joint better [Erkanal (A) 2000:281]. The floor of the building was built of flat and small stones. It is ascertained that the architectural remains of MBA beneath the western Cemetery of Panaztepe are constructed on top of EBA levels; proving that tha EBA settlement also extends over a large area [Erkanal (A) 2004:245]. In 2012, the excavations carried out in the north of the acropolis and the front section of the city wall in order to expose the earliest architectural remains of Panaztepe. In these areas, a large building complex with at least two building phases was found. This complex has been severely damaged due to the later buildings and heavy erosion. The location of the building complex and the quality potsherds indicate that this complex could have been used as administrative purposes during the beginning of the 2nd millenium BC. A building complex with 9 rooms was also exposed around the megaron located in the same area [Erkanal et al. 2014:25]. Pottery: Pottery of handmade and coarse ware recovered from the Structure C and the building level this structure was discovered is reported to date back to EBA III. A spouted pitcher [Erkanal 1996:335] and a depas; one handle broken; recovered from the LBA level are said to be found within the EBA remains and be re-utilized by the people of this period [Erkanal (A) 2000:280; pic.3]. Three pieces of bell-shaped cups revealed by the rain waters on the slope of Panaztepe are also elements of EBA culture. During 2003 season excavations in trench J/16 EBA potsherds were also found with lots of MBA ones [Erkanal-Çinardali 2005:25]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The excavator proposes that the Structure C he identified as contemporary with the fifth level of MBA was built at the end of EBA III and re-utilized all through MBA after being renewed. Likes of depas were also found at the contemporary "Corridor House" of Limantepe; Baklatepe and Troy IId-g. |
