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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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Early Iron Age Late Iron Age |
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| 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. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: D.M. Robinson conducted an excavation at Sizma Höyük in 1924. It was re-investigated during the survey conducted by R.O. Arik et al. in 1941. In 1996, H. Bahar made a study on the Sizma Höyük material by permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Archaeological Museum of Konya. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The Early Bronze Age artifacts compose majority of finds. Although a temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess Mitri Zizimene was searched at the site, no such architectural elements were found. In 1941 R.O. Arik et al. identified sherds dating to a wide span of periods ranging from the Chalcolithic Age to the Classical Ages during their expedition in the region. During the excavations by H. Bahar, ceramics and slags dating from the Chalcolithic Age, EBA, LBA, Early Iron Age, Late Iron Age, Hellenistic and Roman Periods. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: Pottery of Sizma Höyük represents the most colorful examples in the region. They are mainly cream slipped, and decorated with black and brown in parallel and wavy lines. Among the monochrome vessels, majority are of grey ware. They are similar to the vessels found at Gordion in terms of form. Brown and buff colored vessels in different forms are also available at Sizma, which resemble the common grey ceramics found in the region. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is believed that Sizma had closely related with the Southwestern, and West Anatolian and Aegean cultures. |
