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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Gözlükule |
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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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150 m |
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Region:
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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Mersin |
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District:
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Tarsus |
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Village:
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Merkez |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Early Middle Late |
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| Location: The site lies in Gözlükule Quarter; southwest of Tarsus District northeast of Içel Province. The mound is known as "Tarsus" in some archaeological publications. |
| Geography and Environment: Flat and conical mound is 25 m long; and has a diameter of 300 m. Modern settlements surround the site; today. Tarsus Stream passes by the eastern side. The settlement is thought to be located very close to the sea during the first settlement. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The excavations carried out in Gözlükule can be grouped into two as before and after the World War II. The 1934 and 1936-37 excavations were conducted before the World War II. Following the war; it was re-excavated by H. Goldman of the College of Bryn Mawr in the name of the American-Tarsus exploration team in 1947-1949. The Chalcolithic Age levels were revealed in a 3.5x4.5 m trench [Goldman 1956:fig.1; 2]. The water table prevented the excavators to reach the virgin soil. Late Chalcolithic Age graves were revealed in the trenches on the southeastern slope of the mound and in the plain; below it [Goldman 1956:6-7]. In September 2000; a team from the Bogaziçi University; Faculty of Science-Letters; History Department made some preliminary preparations with M.J. Mellink who is also a member of the old excavation team. In 2000; researches were started in Gözlükule and the region. Studies are being continued. Excavations were resumed by Bosphorus University in 2007 under A. Özyar. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The cultural stratigraphy of the site; which was settled from the Neolithic Age to the Classical Age (Tarse of the antiquity); is reported with the names of cultural horizons; not by letters or numbers. According to the excavation results; the lowest niveau of the Chalcolithic levels is 30.5 m. It is interpretated that Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic Age levels are existent at the site due to the surface finds and the sherds recovered during the excavation. The revealed Chalcolithic Age levels and their niveaux are; 30.5 Ğ 30.0 m: Ubaid Period 30.0 Ğ 27.0 m: Late Chalcolithic Age |
| Small Finds: Architecture: There is not enough information about the Chalcolithic Age architecture. Yellow clay floors; ash traces; and hearth pieces were revealed in 3-5 cm thick levels between 30 m and 28.8 m. A pinkish limestone; resembling a post support; was found at 28.8 m depth. Deer horns were recovered on a floor. Sherds were found on the floors. Rectangular hearths were revealed at the upper levels. Pottery: The sherds in early wares recovered from the surface are observed to be of light color slipped matt-red painted ware; buff-orange slipped bright red painted ware; Halafian and Halaf-influenced ware; and complex brushed decorated ware. Ubaid Period or wares contemporary with Ubaid Period between 30.5 Ğ 30.0 m are standard light colored ware; decorated ware; coarse wares; sand-tempered cooking wares; coarse brittle ware; red burnished ware; and gray burnished ware. Light slipped chaff-faced ware; wiped-faced light slipped ware; painted glazed band decorated ware; incised ware; coarse chaff-faced ware; and cooking ware are observed among the Late Chalcolithic Age pottery between 30.0 Ğ 27.0 m. All the ware groups of Gözlükule are reported in detail by M. J. Mellink [Goldman 1956:72-91]. Chipped Stone: There is no detailed information about this industry. Arrowheads; and rod-handle pieces were found besides the perforators and scrapers. Some of them are retouched on one side; while some of them are retouched on both sides. Obsidian and flintstone were used together. Obsidian is thought to be imported from Ilicapinar. Ground Stone: Various objects made of green stone; yellow limestone; and black marble were recovered. There is no detailed information. Metal: The existence of a lead ring and other lead pieces at the Chalcolithic Age levels hints important technological developments in metallurgy. Human Remains: Two small trenches (No: 8 and 9) were opened on the slope; out of the center mound; near the modern road. Late Chalcolithic Age levels were reached beneath the Ottoman and Roman Period deposits; approximately at 5 m. Seven graves were found in the 3.5x3.5 m trench (No:9). Some of the bodies were buried in large jars/pithoi. Bones of three bodies were found inside the "L"shaped trench (No:8). Some of them are observed to be pithos burials. Almost all skeletons belong to children. Two or more were buried in large pithoi [Özgüç 1948b:27]. Some of these are thought to be the secondory burials. Monochrome jars; resembling Late Chalcolithic Age pottery recovered from the mound; were put inside the pithoi as grave goods. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: There are not interesting architectural or small finds at the lower levels of Gözlükule. For this reason; the site was not able to provide much information about the Chalcolithic Age for the Archaeology of Anatolia. Comparisions are made with Mersin Yumuktepe. There are different ideas about the extramural cemetery; identified as the Late Chalcolithic Age cemetery. It is interesting that the painted wares of the first painted wares of Çukurova (Cilicia). |
