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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Çavi Tarlasi |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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505 m |
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Region:
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Southeastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Sanliurfa |
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District:
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Siverek |
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Village:
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Nusaybin |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Early |
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| Location: The site lied approximately 500 m northeast of Nusaybin Village of Siverek District of Urfa; 4.5 km east of Hassek Village. It was located on the earth road leading to Kalemli before it was inundated by Atatürk Dam. |
| Geography and Environment: Çavi Tarlasi is a settlement; measuring 140x120 m; that was founded at the eastern slope of a terrace. Its name means "fresh water field". Çavi Tarlasi has many fresh water springs that irrigate the mound and the surrounding areas. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was discovered during the Hassek Höyük Excavations [Behm - Blancke 1985:181]. After the systematic surface collection in 1982; excavations were conducted by the director of Urfa Museum; A. Misir; and by A. von Wickede from the University of Munich in 1983-84 [von Wickede 1984:112]. |
| Stratigraphy: There are 5 building levels dating to the Halafian culture. The 5th; which is just on top of the bedrock and the 4th building levels were revealed during a sounding. The second building level has two phases (2a; 2b).There are 5 building levels dating to the Halafian culture. The 5th; which is just on top of the bedrock; and the 4th building levels were revealed during a sounding. The second building level has two phases (2a; 2b). |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The 5th Building level; which is the lowest level of Çavi Tarlasi; lies directly on main rock and is represented by a pit and a floor. There are no architectural remains in the 4th Building level except for a small round structure; which is thought as a storage. Three continuous building levels were observed above the 4th Building level. Two round-structures (tholoi); and another round-structure with a semicircle wall were revealed as well as the rectangular planned spaces. The foundation of all of the structures are made of basalt and pebble. 60 cm thick foundations consist of 2 or 3 courses of stones; while the rectangular structures' foundations are 40 cm thick. Use of mud-brick and traces of conflagration were observed at a round-structure (at the eastern wall of tholos No:3). The dimensions of the mud-bricks are 28 x 17 x 8 m. Fore rooms; built in southeast -northwest direction; are observed in the two round-structures of the 3rd Building level. Of the two; the one at the north has a diameter of 4 m. Its fore room is divided into three sections. There are two fire places with a diameter of 1 m; attached to the eastern wall; and a pebble floor just across the fire places; which is probably the entrance of the structure. There is no passage between the rectangular room and the round-structure. Therefore; the rectangular room cannot be the entrance. The floors are observed to be paved with small pieces of limestone. The other tholos (No:13) with a rectangular annex has a diameter of 3.6 m; while the dimensions of the rectangular room is 4.0x2.6 m. A small round-structure; functioning as a silo; was built out at the northeastern corner of the room. There is another small room between the silo and the fore room. The 3rd Building level was conflagrated. The reason for the fire may be an earthquake when the collapsed eastern walls of the rectangular structures are considered. The settlement has continued after the destruction of the 3rd Building level. The 2nd Building level has two phases. Walls of a rectangular planned structure (No:8) were revealed north of the excavated area. These walls may belong to an independent rectangular house or to the fore room of a tholos whose round sections are damaged. Three round-structures; and the remains of two rectangular structures; which were observed to be extremely damaged; were revealed besides the building (No:12) with a round-structure; the hearth inside it; and the rectangular fore room just south of it. Hearths with raised sides and pebble-paved floors of this phase are different from the mud-brick hearths of the previous phase. Its floor is covered with lime pieces; and there is a fire place near the eastern wall. The remains of the 1st Building level were observed to be extremely damaged. The eastern half of a round-structure (No:7); with a diameter of 5 m; is well preserved. To the east are two other round-structures (No:9 and 14). There is also a rectangular structure with a diameter of 4.5 m at the easternmost. In addition; fire places; storages; and domed hearths for firing pottery and baking bread; were revealed [von Wickede 1985:191-193; von Wickede-Misir 1986:104-105; von Wickede-Herbordt 1989:7-17]. Pottery: The pottery of Çavi Tarlasi consists of two main groups: Painted decorated Halafian ware and cooking chaff-ware. The first group is red and black painted decorated with two variants of well and poor fired types. The second main group consists of cooking pots of chaff-ware used in daily life. A little amount of black burnished vessels could be recovered. Forms are bowls and jars with short necks or without necks. Spouts and handles are observed on some jars. The painted vessels are observed to be decorated with geometrical motifs such as lines; zigzags; wavy-lines; dots; circles; and checkerboard. Although less in number; stylized trees and bull heads were also observed [von Wickede 1984:114; 118-122; von Wickede-Herbordt 1989:20-23]. Clay: There are approximately 20 baked clay figurine pieces; and spindle-whorls. Some of the figurine pieces are observed to be painted with horizontal lines. The holes on the necks suggest that the heads were put on the bodies subsequently [von Wickede 1984:117]. Chipped Stone: The chipped stone tools of Çavi Tarlasi consist of blades made of obsidian and flintstone; and are compared with Amuq C-E. The lack of obsidian around the region suggests that this material was imported. Ground Stone: Abundant grinding stones; milestones; mattlocks; pestles; flat axes; trap weights; and also pieces of stone vessels; stamp seal; and amulets were found during the excavation and surface collection [von Wickede 1984:114-117; Behm-Blancke 1984:163-164; von Wickede-Herbordt 1989:19]. Bone / Antler: Tools made of bone were recovered. Human Remains: More than 15 graves were revealed inside and outside of the buildings. Some of them contain grave goods. Burial tradition seems to be extramural. Most of the skeletons were damaged because of ploughing activities. A big stone axe; flintstone and obsidian tools were recovered from one of the graves [von Wickede 1985:193; von Wickede-Misir 1986:105; von Wickede-Herbordt 1989:17]. Fauna: Besides cultivation; domestic animals such as cow; pig; sheep; and goat show that Çavi Tarlasi was also a stockbreeding center. Dog bones were also recovered. Although wild animals were hunted (2% of the sum of all animal bones); it is reported that hunting was not important for the inhabitants of Çavi Tarlasi [von Wickede-Misir 1986:105; Schaffer-Boessneck 1989:51]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Çavi Tarlasi which was dated to the period between the end of Halaf and Late Halaf periods by the researchers, is an important settlement which throws a light on the Anatolian Halaf architecture. Çavi Tarlasi seems like a village settlement, where the agricultural and animal husbandry practices were performed, together with its rounded (tolos) structures with square shaped rooms which were defined as silos based on the pottery and ground stone finds recovered, a large number of flint hoes and domestic animal bones. It is compared with Girikihaciyan which is contemporary with it and located in the same region in terms of the settlement features, while the findings is compared with Amuq Phase C. It is dated to the first half of 5th millennium BC. |
