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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Sizma Höyük |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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1550 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Konya |
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District:
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Selçuklu |
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Village:
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Sizma |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Roman |
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| It lies to the immediate north of the Sizma Village (former name Zizima) on a high plateau among the mountains; north of the Selçuklu District of the Konya Province. The Kursunlu Fortress from the Roman Period is situated to the northwest of the mound while the Nevine Fortress from the same period is located to the north. It was situated at a point controlling the transportation between Sizma and Ladik from the 2nd century B.C. The mound measures 150x150x25 m. An excavation was conducted in 1924 by D.M. Robinson on behalf of the University of Michigan. The survey conducted in 1941 under the direction of R.O. Arik revealed that the site had been continously occupied from the Chalcolithic Age. It is included within the territorum of Laodiceia Katakaumene; and it was involved in copper and lead production during the ancient period; and the valuable mineral deposits were exploited as an imperial land. As a center of the Meter Zizimene cult; it yielded many votives to the goddess from the Roman Period as well as several postherds. Also found are votives to Agdistis Epekoos; Helios "Apollo Sozon"; Zeus Megistus and Ares. Also; it seems that the cult of Zeus Phratrius was significant. Fragments of relief sarchopagi and cornices from the Roman Period have been re-used at Sizma. It was researched during the "2007 Konya and Karaman Provinces and Districts Archaeological Survey" by H. Bahar et al. in 2007. A hardly legible stele on the parapet of the ancient bridge at the entrance of the town, the Zizimene sculptures on the wall of a village house, which is about to collapse and the steleae in the municipality garden were researched, the Roman building elements in some of the village houses and the sarcophagi were registered [Bahar 2009:120].It is listed in the registered archaeological sites inventory prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Location: It is situated witin the boundaries of the Selçuklu District in Konya. It lies approximately 25 km northwest Konya. It was founded in a valley among the mountains, approximately 12 km west of the Konya-Istanbul motorway. Lying immediately north of the present town, it measures 150x150x25 m in dimensions. |
| Geography and Environment: Sizma is situated between the ancient Lycaonia, East Phrygia and Pisidia. It is of strategical importance since it commands the valley roads leading to the mountains of the Konya Plain. To the northeast lies Karadag, to the south is Gediktepesi (1821 m), to the north rises the Mount Çaldagi, to the west is Kuzyatak, and to the southwest lies the Mount Bozdag (1823 m). Sizma was known as Zizima or Zizime during the Ancient Age. Surveys and excavations as well as characteristics of the region indicate that Sizma and its environs had been occupied starting from the prehistoric periods. Traces of occupation are observed in the caves, so called obruk by the locals, located to the southwest of the town. |
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