|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yassikaya |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Cave |
|
Altitude:
|
m |
|
Region:
|
Black Sea |
|
Province:
|
Zonguldak |
|
District:
|
Eregli |
|
Village:
|
Ovaköy |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: The site is located on the southern ridges of the valley formed by theGözeren stream; which is a small branch of Aydinlar River; close to Ovaköy; about 20 km east of Karadeniz Ereglisi. |
| Geography and Environment: Both sides of the Gözeren valley are rocky; while the slopes and the flat areas are covered with trees. The site is located on the southern edge of the valley; on a rocky platform that extends on a large area. The cultural deposit was determined in a natural cave in the middle of the rocky area and on the platform adjacent to it. The cave is in the north-south direction and its mouh faces the valley. On its southern age is an opening like a well. It is assumed that the cave was completely or partially covered while it was being occupied. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The settlement was discovered by the archaeologist C. Nalci. Excavations were carried out in one month in 2000 under the directorship of Karadeniz Ereglisi Museum and the scientific advisory of T. Efe rom Istanbul University. |
| Stratigraphy: On the floor of the cave; which is pretty sloping; a cultural deposit of two layers was determined. The lower layer is dark gray in color. The upper one is yellow and has been mixed with broken stones. In this fill; burnt sherds and mudbrick pieces with pole stains were found. A similar cultural fill with two layers was encountered on the platform as well. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: The potsherds are handmade and does not include chaff temeper. There is an obvious difference between the cultural layer. The pottery is studied in three groups; plain corse ware; red slip ware and dark rim ware. The most typical forms are deep bowls; spouted pitchers and inverted rimed or wide necked pots. The decorations on the pots are characterised by relief bands. There are knobs near both sides of the handles on some examples.Incised decoration also seen on some potsherds. Clay: Spindle whorls are mostly half sphere shaped; but one or two samples are conical. Few of them are decorated. Loom weights are slightly flat shaped and thier heads are rounded. Chipped Stone: Some flint blades were found. Ground Stone: Basalt gringind stones were found. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is the first prehistoric site known in the shore between Sinop and Kocaeli. According to the numerous architectural remains and to the other finds it is suggested that it was a camping site. |
