|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Çine Tepecik |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Mound |
|
Altitude:
|
50 m |
|
Region:
|
Aegean |
|
Province:
|
Aydin |
|
District:
|
Çine |
|
Village:
|
Karakollar |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: It lies 3 km southwest of Karakollar Village; northwest of Çine; south of Aydin Province. |
| Geography and Environment: The oval mound extending in north-south direction in a lowland with cultivated fields locates 1 km east of Çine Stream. The mound widens from north to south and forms a flat view close to the level of plain. It is 40x120 m in dimensions and 9 m in height. A damaged tomb chamber dating to the late periods locates on it. The areas surrounding the mound are destructed by intensive agriculture and on the top of it destruction caused by illicit digging was observed. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Tepecik was first investigated by E. Akdeniz in 1995; during the survey at Big Meander Valley and its surrounding territory. The site was re-investigated by S. Günel during Aydin and Mugla provinces survey in 2001. The excavations started at the mound; which is thought to clarify the development of Prehistoric cultures in Çine region by its location and its finds; in 2004 by S. Günel. The excavation focused on the western area of the mound; in trenches I/11; I/12 and I/13 [cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk 3.5.2006; 11:30]. |
| Stratigraphy: A chronology extending from 2nd millennium BC to Middle Chalcolithic was followed in the first excavation season at Tepecik. The evidences from the fortification wall which was partly uncovered were dated to 2nd millennium BC. Excavations inside the wall yielded a group of finds that were dated to Middle and Late Bronze Age. At the same time outside the wall on the western part of the mound a settlement reaching Chalcolithic Age was observed. Especially the round planned architectural remain and the wall extensions proved the existence of a Middle Chalcolithic Age settlement at the mound [cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk 3.5.2006; 11:30]. Based on the recent studies, the stratigraphy of the settlement as it follows: Level I: Building level 1-Classical Period Building level 2-Carian Geometric Period Level II: Building level 1 (a-b)-LBA Building level 2 (a-b)-MBA Level III: EBA Level IV: Chalcolithic / Late Neolithic |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The wall extensions consisting of double line of bond on the southwest corner of trench I/1 are probably belonging to northeast corner of a building. On the north side of these wall extensions an architectural remain formed by round planned bonds was observed. Some of the stones in this building remain which has a diameter of 1.2 m were placed vertically [cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk 3.5.2006; 11:30]. There is another building with a similar character in round shape; just on the southern edge of this building found during the 2005 excavations. Those silos were assumed to belong to a workshop section in relation with the silo; or a second silo just sout of the round silo. There is a short extension found between the two buildings' remains formed by the stone plaques. The presence of a row of stones was observed which do not possess any architectural qualities just west of those remains; that were unearthed back-to-back in east-west direction. Although not very clear those stones extend in northeast-southwest direction and create a view that delimit the silo structures from the west [Günel 2007:234]. During the excavations carried out in Trench I/11 and J/11, a rounded structure was exposed. It was suggested that this structure functioned as silo. The structure was bordered with stones [Günel 2015:291]. During the 2014 excavations conducted in Trench L-11 and 12, remains of a building were found in Level IV. The wall erected with pebbles, which was found at the southeast corner of the building and the finds were dated to Late Chalcolithic [Günel 2016: 206]. Pottery: The pots found in the round planned building and at the area where the wall extensions forming a corner represented the characteristics of Chalcolithic Age pottery. The closest parallels of the pattern burnished deep bowls among these finds; come from Samos-Tigani both known by their forms and type of decorations inside the bowl with cage pattern forming panels in periodic spaces [cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk 3.5.2006; 11:30]. Middle to Early Chalcolithic Age decorated sherds were revealed during excavations in 2005. Among those there are sherds with fluted and paint decorations made by diagonal or vertical lines on deep bowls; with burnishing decorations. On the other hand there are sherds with different decoration techniques such as decoration by carving; and paint coating; as well as fluted decoration applied on the inner and outer surfaces of the vessels. The majority of the decorations applied on the vessels are the fluted and the coating decorations applied on the inner surfaces. Among the pottery finds there are fragments of horn type handle forms starting at Tigani I location; that belong to dark grey pottery group. Additionally similar handles were observed among the Chalcolithic Age finds in Chios-Ayia Gala [Günel 2007:234-235]. During the 2006 campaign red mud soil and in situ sherds were revealed starting with the layer where the ash layer was cut through, dated to the second half of the 2nd Millenium, in the southern profile of the trench N12 in the Southern Excavation Area. Among the sherds revealed at and around the adobe floor the pattern burnished decorated, and grill hatched decorated as well as incised decorated vessels with extremely straight parallel lines, vertical or horizontal zigzag lines inside bowls, show the diversity of the decoration techniques and the richness of the decorative figures [Günel 2008:77-78]. In 2006, More middle Chalcolithic pottery with parallels to Emporio IX-VIII and Tigani was also found [http://cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk; 16.11.2009, 16:15]. In 2007 campaign tripod vessel sherds and inverted rimmed sherds and chisel decorated or relief decorated knobs were encountered intensely encountered during early Late Chalcolithic Age and EBA in the West Excavation Area [Günel 2009:228]. The potsherds recovered from the plan square of VI-X/f-i in 2012 consist of grey colored bowls with inverted and simple rims. Large round-shaped relief lugs and horns lugs were also seen. These potsherds share similarity with the ones known from Western Anatolia and Aegean. Especially vessels with decorative burnishing are similar with the ones found in Gülpinar, Besik-Sivritepe, Kumtepe IA, Malkaya Cave, Simos-Tigani in Western Anatolia and Kalymnos-Vathy III in Aegean region. These wares bear characteristic of Middle Chalcolithic Period in terms of material, technique, decoration style and form [Günel 2014:116]. Level IV pottery recovered in 2013 consists of bowls, handle fragments and pot sherds defined as cheese pot [Günel 2015:291]. In 2014, a great number of potsherds belonging to Late Chalcolithic were found in the area where the wall remains were exposed in Trech L/11-12. Deep bowls with mushroom-shaped handles (these pieces were only found in the form of a handle in previous seasons), bright burnished vessels, decorated wares and motifs show the artistic aspects of ceramic production of the period. These wares have some parallels with the ones found West Anatolia and Aegean [Günel 2016: 206]. Chipped Stone: Among the finds there is a stone axe in triangle form with a worn surface. Also finds are commonly obsidian sickle blades and besides these there are perforators; points and flakes. Rather well made examples of flint tool exist as well as obsidian [cat.une.edu.au/page/cine-tepecik%20hoyuk 3.5.2006; 11:30]. The marble idol figures among the small finds revealed during the 2005 excavations are represented by the idol type in "violin shape"; which belongs to the two or three phase schematical idols group of the Aegean and Anatolian regions; and Tepecik idols are the earliest examples that show this variety in the region. Among the other finds are the triangle and rectangular form stone axes and a rich group that consists of the obsidian and flintstone tools. There are especially the sickle blades revealed in large numbers; tips; and pre-scrapers [Günel 2007:235-236]. In 2014, obsidian sickle blades and flint blades were found [Günel 2016: 206]. Bone/Antler: The bone tools which were revealed in remarkably large numbers; and variety prove the presence of a tipologically and functionally advanced bone tool production technology. Among the bone tools the awls and the other bone tools that are various in terms of functions form a large group [Günel 2007:235]. The 2006 campaign revealed in situ sherds as well as bone tools in the southern profile of trench N12 [Günel 2008:78]. The 2013 excavation season yielded cylindrical bead with eyelet, bone awls and a bone handle [Günel 2015:292]. In 2014, the common bone tools were spatulae and awls [Günel 2016: 206]. Human Remains: A baby skeleton's fragments were found dispersed in very small pieces inside the bottom of a partially preserved pithos revealed lying in north-south direction in trench L/11 at the West Excavation Area in 2007. A heavily destroyed adult skeleton buried inside the ground was found northwest of the partially preserved pithos. The ribs, bassin, and inverted foot bones suggest a hocker type of burial of an adult [Günel 2009:228]. The graves exposed during 2010-2012 seasons consist three types of burial: simple earth grave, pot burial and pithos burial. These graves, which belong to women and children, are dated to Late Chalcolithic and the beginning of EBA. In 2013, the simple earth grave exposed in Trench L/13 yielded a woman skeleton in hocker position. Metal ring earrings were found around her skull. A pithos fragment was found next to this skeleton. It was seen that a pot was placed under this pithos fragment. Skull remains and bones belonging to a baby were found inside the pot [Günel 2015:292-293]. Faunal Remains: Faunal remains belonging to Level IV consist of cattle, sheep, goat and deer bones [Günel 2015:292]. As in the previous seasons, the 2014 studies yielded animal remains belonging to sheep/goat, cattle and deer. The high density of animal remains emphasizes the importance of production and animal husbandry [Günel 2016: 206]. Other: "The 2005 excavation finds consist of "Shuttle" type frit beads of the jewelry group; a sea shell bead; and a marble anklet fragment [Günel 2007: 236]. The 2013 excavation season yielded Kilia type figurines, fragments of marble vessels and baked clay animal figurine [Günel 2015:292]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The remains from the earliest Early and Middle Chalcolithic Age found during the excavation performed in the land on the east side of the mound; outside the fortification show that the settlement expanded in west and southwest directions and that the mound has a chronological advancement that date to prehistorical periods ]Günel 2007:241]. The skeleton remains inside the pithos burial and the adult skeleton buried in the ground that were unearthed at West Excavation Area in 2007, introduced a burial tradition inside the settlement, during Late Chalcolithic Age on culture level IV at Tepecik [Günel 2009:228-229]. |
