©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project


Boynuzluin

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Boynuzluin
Type:
Cave
Altitude:
270 m
Region:
Mediterranean
Province:
Antalya
District:
Merkez
Village:
Yagca
Investigation Method:
Survey
Period:
Late

     


Location: The site lies 30-31 km north-northwest of Antalya; 1 km northeast of Karain Cave; approximately 250 m northwest of Öküzini Cave.
Geography and Environment: The cave; very close to Kirkgöz Springs and 45 m high above the level of the plain; formed naturally on the eastern slopes of Katran Mountain. Its mouth; closed today; looks towards east. It is; therefore; very appropriate for a settlement. The cave consists of three galleries and a very small entrance. This first entrance leads to the main mouth of the cave. The second gallery is the main living room. This space is divided by a drystone wall. These walls became cemented in time because of the dropping lime water; and formed into a big platform. The western part of the 2nd gallery; called "a"; has a 25-30 cm thick deposit. The third gallery at the back; consisting of stalactites and crystals; is higher than the level of the cave; and seems like a balcony. This gallery was not inhabited. In addition; small indentations; belonging to the 2nd gallery; were observed.
History:
Research and Excavation: The site was discovered by P. Lacroix from the excavation team of Karain in 1990. Two carob trees were spotted by Lacroix in front of the closed mouth of the cave. Therefore; it was called "Boynuzluin". These trees grew because of the humid air within the cave. A hole was dug; and the fore-room* was reached east of the main entrance. The excavation team of Karain also called the site as Bibis Cave or Bibisini; because Lacroix's nickname Bibis during the excavation. The place where the cave is located bears no local name.
Stratigraphy: It is not known whether Boynuzluin Cave has a stratigraphy or not; because excavations are not conducted yet.
Small Finds: Architecture: There are hearths; containing fire traces and ash remains; at the Gallery II a of the cave. The front part of these hearths are surrounded by a few courses of sones. Pottery: Sherds and two whole vessels were found at the same gallery. One of them is made of coarse paste. One of them is a shallow bowl with a flat floor; and the other one is a cup with a shallow body and a simple rounded mouth. Resemblances of the first vessel were found at the Late Chalcolithic Age level of Karain. Floord on these pre-analyses; these vessels are dated to the Late Chalcolithic Age [Taskiran 1994:229].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The cave was probably closed by a subsidence caused by an earthquake in the Late Chalcolithic Age. The walls at the 2nd gallery show that the cave was seperated into sections like a house. Whether there were any settlements at the Palaeolithic-Neolithic Ages or not; will be understood by an excavation. There were no finds belonging to these ages on the floor or in front of the cave.


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