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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Tilbes Höyük |
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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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360 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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Keskince |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA I EBA III EBA II |
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| Location: It was located 2 km north-northeast of Keskince (Tilmusa) Village on the eastern bank of the Euphrates; about 22 km northwest of the Birecik District; west of the Sanliurfa Province. Local meaning of Tilbes is the "Last Hill". |
| Geography and Environment: It was a conical mound located near the Euphrates measuring 12 m in height above the river bank and 110x100 m in dimensions. The cultural deposit was informed to be of 14.5 m thick. The slopes were like stepped terraces; and the western slope facing the Euphrates was steeper than the others. The Euphrates was flowing through a wide basin right below the mound; therefore it can be suggested that this site was a pathway for pedestrians. It was submerged by the Birecik Dam. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered during a survey conducted by G. Algaze in the name of the Chicago University in 1989 [Algaze 1994:32; map 5]. The salvage digs started by a Spanish excavation team under the support of the Alicante University by J.G. Fuensanta were planned to continue until the mound was flooded by the Birecik Dam. The excavations were completed by an international team in 2000. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: Both the survey and the excavation have laid out that the site had been occupied during the Obeid Period (Chalcolithic Age); Post-Uruk (EBA I); end of third millennium BC-beginning of the second millennium BC (EBA III-IV); MBA; Middle Iron Age; Late Iron Age/Akhamenid; Hellenistic; Roman and Islamic periods. It had been abandoned for a long period of time from MBA II. The excavator reports that the thickness of EBA I; III/IV is more than 10 m. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: (ascending order) EBA I level was excavated in an area of 136 squaremeters on the lower part of the southern slope. Remains of mudrick walls on a stone foundation belonging to structural units were uncovered. A smelting bench for mine was found in a room. The function of clay platform/elevation is unclear. At the end of the 1999 season; a burnt building of EBA III was uncovered. This building has parallels to Beycesultan. It includes a number of sets of large clay horns. Doorways and adjoining rooms were found. Beneath the "Burned Building" of Mid/Late EB; several buildings with a similar plan and on same spot were revealed. They can be dated to EBA III; II or I. Most of the in situ Transcaucasian/black Karaz pottery was found in this area. There was also a multi-roomed building with stone walls dating to the EBA I. Under the EBA IV terrace; at least two EBA III surfaces were determined. They are suggested to be informal courtyards. In this area there is also a broad area that seems to be a work space at the EBA I level. In the northeast corner of the square a mudbrick construction was found. The remains of EBA III/IV in accordance with the Syrian chronology were revealed on the steep western slope. The fortification wall or terrace wall uncovered during the first year of the excavation was found to extend to the south during the second year. A series of buildings dating to EBA IV a and IVb was uncovered. They have mudbrick walls as well as smooth and elaborately made floors [Fuensanta et al 2000:158; fig.3]. The inner walls are plastered. The rooms are observed to have a four-cornered plan. There are small silos. The clay pits uncovered in a floor in a series at trench E4 are suggested to be dug to place big jugs. The fragments of mudbrick scattered around expose the presence of big buildings in the inner part of the mound. Below level EBA IV; there is a building partly underwent a fire. It has two rooms. The bigger one has a niche and a hearth. Between two rooms; there is a door. The upper buildings of EBA have been destroyed by the upper levels. Pottery: No detailed information is provided about this industry. EBA I is represented by footed cups of reserved slip decorated ware; etc. Samples of simple plain ware are seen at goblet-like cups. The presence of painted ware of Karababa is reported at EBA III/IV levels. Clay: A big jug with lugs recovered from EBA I bear a stamp seal of a schematized human body. EBA III/IV levels yielded goddess figurines in terra cotta. Human Remains: An intramural infant burial was found in a big jar. From the building that was recovered from beneath the burned building; two tombs were excavated. The burials were in a very bad state of preservation. A large pit in the work space; has yielded another tomb dating to the EBA I. It contained 3 bronze pins; beads; 33 vessels of which 15 were tall goblets; 6 were footed bowls; and the rest small bowls and jars [Fuensanta et al. 2002:135]. Fauna: Plenty of kid bones were recovered from EBA III/IV. Restricted number of goat horns and pieces of horns in clay recovered from the burnt building indicates; probably; that a religious ceremony was held here. Flora: Charred barley seeds were found on the niche and hearth uncovered in the main room of the burnt building at EBA IV [Fuensanta 2000:159]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Fuesanta and Misir propose that the EBA settlement was one of the settlements located alongside the river in the Karkamis-Birecik region [Fuensanta-Misir 1998:236]. EBA I is contemporary with Hassek Höyük I and Kurban Höyük V depending on the similarity of the finds. It is like a village settlement. During the EBA; the sub-burned-building layers have shown evidence of a mixed culture with both Anatolian and North Mesopotamian elements. The radiocarbon dates of the EBA I and III levels are as follows: AA35882 2890-2584 BC (EBA III) AA35824 2830-2461 BC (EBA III) AA35826 3491-3039 BC (EBA I) AA35827 3351-2920 BC (EBA I) AA35824 3082-2876 BC (EBA I) |
