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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Mezraa Teleilat |
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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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500 m |
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Region:
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Southeastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Sanliurfa |
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District:
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Birecik |
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Village:
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Mezraa |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Aceramic Ceramic |
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| Location: The site lies northwest of the city of Sanliurfa; 5 km south of the town of Birecik; immediately to the west and partially beneath the modern village of Mezraa. |
| Geography and Environment: The site lies very close to the large meander of the Euphrates; on the first flood terrace east of the Euphrates River. There is an old canal west of the site. The site is an oval mound; 450 m in north south direction and 160 m in east west direction. It is approximately 4 m high. It has been reported that the total area of the site is 7 hectares. A 160x160 m area in the northern part of the mound was destroyed by a bulldozer when an orchard was planted. The orchard construction created a long 1.5 m high cross-sectional profile of the mound. Parts of the mound are cultivated. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The mound was discovered in 1989 by G. Algaze; R. Breuninger and J. Knudstad during their survey of the sites on the Euphrates and the area expected to be flooded around the Kargamis and Birecik dams. After the surface collection in 1998 coordinated by METU TAÇDAM and the Prehistory Department of Istanbul University; the excavation was started by M. Özdogan from the same department in 1999. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: As a result of the excavations in 2001 the cultural process of Mezraa Teleilat was determined as follows: Cultural Layer 1A- Achaemenid/Persian Period; 1B Neo-Assyrian Building Level; 1C Early Iron Age; Cultural Layer 2A- Late Neolithic; Cultural Layer 2B- Middle Neolithic; Cultural Layer 2C- Early Neolithic; 3 Transition from Pre-Pottery to Pottery Neolithic [Karul et al. 2003:165;166]. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The architecture of the Pottery Neolithic Period consists of buildings with high stone foundations; rectangular plans and mudbrick walls. According to the arrangement of the stones on the exterior walls of a cell-planned building; it is suggested that wooden beams were used for the construction. Also; a building measuring 6x3 meters surrounded by a corridor 1.5 m wide at the south and west was found. Under these structures; three structural phases were determined in a burnt accumulation [Karul et al. 2002:109]. A building measuring 14 m in east-west and 6 m in north-south directions; and consisting of rectangular long narrow rooms and smaller square rooms was found. To the north of this building; there is a slightly ovalish planned and prabably domed furnace. Stones of various sizes were used for the foundation of this building. A similar building was also revealed in another trench. To the south of it were found remains of a rectangular planned building with stone foundations and measuring 2x2 m; and it is believed to be the storage of the building mentioned above. As far as it has been excavated; the transition from PN to PPN is represented by four building levels. Small; thin walled rectangular or ovalish buildings supported with wooden beams; furnace; atelier and neatly plastered pits were found. The pits were filled with pebbles and they are believed to have a function related to heat. The fact that the accumulation of this level consists of a gray colored clay has shown that the main construction material was lightwood. Platforms made with flat stone slabs were found around the pits [Karul et al. 2003:161-167]. A large burnt mud-brick wall was found belonging to the PPN. Pottery: The Late Pottery Neolithic vessels are classified as red-painted ware; smeared red slip ware; plain ware with impresso and red-slip decoration; combed and impressed ware and chaff-tempered plain ware. Bowls; either carinated or with a slight 'S' profile; and jars with spherical bodies were encountered in this phase. In the first group; which consists of red-painted ware and smeared red slip ware; the surfaces and the interior parts of the open vessels were covered with a thick layer of red clay slip. Red painted decoration on a cream slip and cream decoration on a red slip is rarely seen. The decoration usually consists of broken lines and geometrical shapes such as filled or combed triangles. Highly burnished dark-colored sherds resemble the Near Eastern pottery known as Dark-faced Burnished Ware. Also in this phase were found vessels of the shapes known as husking trays; characteristic of the Hassuna culture; as well as sherds with Hassuna type incised decoration. The third group consists of vessels withred-slipped rims. On the bodies of some of the vessels with red-slipped rims impressed or incised decoration can be seen. These ceramics can be considered as a transition from impressed decorated ware to red slip ware. The majority of the combed and impressed ware is decorated using a multi-toothed comb-like instrument; which is either impressed on or dragged across the surface. Examples of impresso found infrequently comprise impressed decorative elements such as broken lines; rectangles and triangles. The last group consists of coarsely shaped and light pale yellowish or pinkish white colored; mostly narrow-mouthed low-bellied vessels. The decorative features are raised bands below the rim or relief decoration [Karul-Ayhan-Özdogan 2001:140-143]. The first PN ceramics are very coarse; unburnished and light colored vessels. In the transitional phase from PN to PPN; brown burnished ware is encountered [Karul et al. 2002:111]. Chipped Stone: The majority of the industry consists of flint. A very few number of obsidian was encountered. The flint finds points to an industry based on flake production. The few blades and bladelets generally have one striking platform. Retouched tools such as arrowheads; awls and glossy pieces were made from blades; and tools such as scarpers; notches and denticulates were made from flakes. Obsidian was imported from elsewhere in a prepared form. The largest percentages comprise tools with edge wear and truncated pieces. Besides the scrapers; retouched and notched tools; a few examples of awls; denticulates and backed tools are also available [Coskunsu 2001:133-174; 2002:143-157]. Human Remains: Two child skeletons were found in an area surrounded by large stones. The two flexed burials were found lying one on top of the other in different directions; the one on top lies in south north direction; whereas the lower one lies in the opposite direction. These burials; which were found in a courtyard-like open area; were accompanied by scattered beads. These skeletons were not related to any building [Karul et al. 2002: 110]. Animal Remains: Based on the information gathered in 2002 sheep, goat, ox, and pig (that can be domesticated) are the most common animal species [Özdogan et al. (Gülçin Bertram) 2011: 99]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The preliminary results have shown that the Pre-Pottery Period was disturbed by a community with a totally different culture; this community settled for a period of time and then the old tradition seems to have prevailed again [Karul et al. 2002:114]. The enclosing wall which is certainly first used in PPN is the fifth one that is known from Near East and it will come out by the forthcoming excavations; whether it is used for defense or protection against inundation. The ditch in front of this wall is the same with the one konwn from Jericho [Özdogan et al. 2004:241]. It is reported that Mezraa Teleilat has become a settlement which reflects the transition from PPN to PN and the development of Hassuna-Halaf cultures in a very detailed way [Karul et al. 2003:167]. The difference between phases of PN architecture; such as plans and the locations of rooms and workplaces is an important characteristic; and it may give interesting results for understanding the community in this period; after a detailed investigation [Özdogan et al. 2004:240]. |
