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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Yeniköy / Gavur |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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820 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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Yeniköy |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA III |
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| Location: It was located 3 km north of the Lalusagi Village; northeast of the Pulur/Sakyol Village; northwest of the Elazig Province. It was completely flooded by the Keban Dam. The mound was situated between the Çemisgezek motorway and the Tahar/Tagar Stream; 190 m east of the motorway. It was named after the nearest village (Yeniköy); a seasonal village for nomads. |
| Geography and Environment: H.Z. Kosay who excavated the mound; reports that the mound is also known as Hugu/Gavur Höyük. It is a small and flat mound measuring 14 m in height and ca. 200x150 m in dimensions. It was on the foothill of a natural hill called Kesisin Tümü. Remains of the Roman and Early Byzantine Periods were reported. It is noted that probably there is a natural elevation underneath. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The survey conducted in 1967 by R. Whallon and S. Kantman illustrates only Pulur/Sakyol Höyük in this region; but doesn't refer to Yeniköy Höyügü. In 1972; an excavation was carried out here by the excavation team of Pulur Höyük for one season. The excavation was probably conducted to find out a contemporary settlement to Pulur or due to the damage on the mound. An area of 15x25 m on the top hill and another area of 5x5 m on the northwestern foothill were preferred for excavation [Kosay 1976b:pl.118] |
| Stratigraphy: Even tough it was reported that the fourth building level was reached during the excavation; no information is provided about the first three building levels. If there are any pottery and fragments of stone foundations belonging to the Roman or Early Byzantine Period in the building level I; this level has been severely destroyed. The other building levels (levels 2 and 3) are dated to the EBA because of the sherds of Karaz ware and painting decorated samples of EBA. The northwestern sounding yielded structures belonging to the building level 2. Finding a rhyton looking like a bull head on the surface suggests that there might be a settlement of the second millennium BC [Kosay 1976a:103; pl.71/1]. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The building level 2 dating to EBA yielded a room underwent a massive fire; providing information at least about the architectural construction technique of this level. The inner surface of the room is plastered while the outer is not. The walls were erected by filling method with mudbrick loam. The substructure consists of a single row stone foundation. Adjacent to the southern wall; there is a semi-circular workshop bench. The building level 3 yielded many rooms adjacent to each other; some employed by the same family. The structures are suggested to be twin rooms built side by side [Kosay 1976b:183]. The grinding bench and oven expose that these rooms were probably used as kitchens. The hearth in the room no. 4 was built with particular care. Survived without any corruption; this hearth helped to illuminate the hearth forms of the region. The stone for the post base in the room no. 8 exposes that the rooms were supported by pillars to carry the thick earth ceilings when required. The walls were built by mudbrick. Pottery: The building level 2 yielded intact vessels and sherds of exteriorly black burnished Karaz ware and ware decorated geometrically by red or dark brown paints on a cream colored background. Likewise; it is noted that the building level 3 has a similar inventory [Kosay 1976b:176-181]. All vessels of Karaz ware are handmade. They are tempered with plant; mica and grit. They are usually not well fired. A stand decorated with parallel horizontal channels was recovered. Forms of small jars; pithos; stands; lids; spouted lips and bowls are common. The painting decorated vessels are thin pasted; and they were fired carefully. As decoration; vertical and diagonal incisions between horizontal bands; leaf patterns on branches; saw tooth in bands; stylized human and animal patterns and swastika are observed. Clay: Samples of movable hearth stands frequently found in the Elazig region were also recovered from Yeniköy. Pestle-like object and wheel-like disc were employed for daily work. Samples of "çeç" seals claimed to be used for straw bundles were recovered. They have spiral grooved decorations. A stylized bird-like animal figurine and a sheep figurine are cult elements of Yeniköy community [Kosay 1976b:pl.115/7-10]. However; no idols were found. Chipped Stone: The industry is generally dominated by blades. The raw material is flint. A small arrow/spear head used as a weapon is interesting. Both faces and edges are perfectly retouched [Kosay 1976b:pl.117/3].. Ground Stone: Loomweights and spindle whorls exposed that they were involved in weaving. Shaft-holed axes and flat axes were recovered. The semi-finished holes of the shafts indicate that some of these axes were not finished. Polishing stones; particularly used for burnishing the vessels of Karaz ware; were found. The most amazing piece among the surface finds is a single piece of the mould made of sandstone for shaft-holed axes [Kosay 1976a:pl.110]. Bone/Antler: Awls; traditional items of this age; are abundant. A necklace carved into a bird's beck is a rare type for this region. The carved horn was probably used as a tang. Metal: Kosay associates the finds of copper ores recovered from a room in the building level 2 with the richness of the region in copper. The presence of an intramural production; even tough small; can be suggested depending on the finds. A dagger with a long blade recovered from the northwestern sounding can be included in the beautiful finds of this mound. The excavator suggests that it belongs to the building level 2 [Kosay 1976b:182;pl.117/13]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Yeniköy; or alternately Gavurhöyük; houses one of the hundreds of EBA villages located in the vicinity of Elazig. As the excavation lasted only for one season; the features of the settlement were not identified clearly. Yet; the kitchen tools expose that the community of Yeniköy lived in an economy dominated by agriculture and animal husbandry. It is in general a poor settlement. H.Z.Kosay does not report the presence of any ware groups other than Karaz ware and painted ware. The dating of the excavated settlement is not provided. It can be dated to EBA II-III depending on the samples of the painted ware pottery. |
