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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Porsuk / Zeive Tepe |
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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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1335 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Nigde |
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District:
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Ulukisla |
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Village:
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Darbogaz |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: It is situated on the motorway, 3.8 km from the Darbogaz Village, southeast of the Ulukisla District in Nigde. |
| Geography and Environment: |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered by J. Mellaart, and then visited by D. French. It is listed among the EBA settlements of the region. The excavation project launched by O. Pelon in 1969 was carried out until 2001. After a short interlude, excavations started again under the directory of D.P. Beyer and were conducted until 2015 with several short breaks. Since 2017, C. Barat has been leading the excavations at Porsuk / Zeive Tepe. |
| Stratigraphy: Traces of settlements belonging to the Hittite, Late Iron Age and Roman Periods were found as a result of excavations. The site is also known as Zeyve Höyük. The Bronze Age and Middle/Late Iron Age levels can be clearly distinguished in terms of both stratification and pottery. The levels IV and III belong to the Iron Age. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The architectural finds uncovered at level III (Middle/Late Iron Age) reveal that the site was enclosed by a strong defense system. The excavations yielded the main wall in the eastern section and a part of the corner tower. A large building at the western trench inside the citadel was partially excavated. The Iron Age remains near the surface on the eastern section have been partially destroyed due to erosions and illicitly dug pits. Pottery: A hearth and a vessel containing a grey double-handled jug completed with plaster were found in situ on a floor belonging to the Middle Iron Age [Beyer 2005:67, fig. 6]. A majority of the pottery recovered from this level includes the Iron Age sherds decorated with painted geometric figures. Having close relations with the Cilicia Region material, they can be grouped under two categories as bichrome and polychrome. The decorations are usually plain such as the horizontal bands on the rim or the body of the vessel. Additionally, triangular, grill-shaped, concentric semi-circular motifs were used. Despite being limited in number, the imported ceramics include grey or dark surfaced Phrygian ware, Southwest Anatolian black painted ware on red background and Rhodian ware. The level IV (Transition phase/Early Iron Age) is represented by the pottery finds rather than the architecture. This material was initially unearthed among the building remains around the settlement. It is believed that the new buildings above some of the adobe walls unearthed during the excavations at the west trench belong to the Iron Age. On the other hand, on the eastern section, it was found that body of an Early Iron Age fortification wall made of gypsum was seated over the Hittite wall. An Early Iron Age casemate wall that composes a corner in the southeast was built behind the Hittite wall. Based on the excavation results, it seems that the Early Iron Age level is located immediately above the 13th century BC Hittite level. The nature of this continuity suggests that the new level was built by the people who destroyed the Hittite level. The sherds recovered from the site have similarities with Tarsus, Kilise Tepe, Kinet Höyük, Mersin and Karatepe material [Crespin 1999:69]. |
| Remains: |
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