©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Gri Memo Mevkii |
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Type:
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Habitation Site / Workshop |
Altitude:
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m |
Region:
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Southeastern Anatolia |
Province:
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Adiyaman |
District:
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Samsat |
Village:
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Balcilar |
Investigation Method:
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Survey |
Period:
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AP OP |
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Location: This site was south-southeast of Adiyaman; 5 km west-southwest of Samsat and about 2.700 m west of the village of Balcilar (Sinan Kantara). Before it was submerged under the Atatürk Dam Lake in 1992; the site lay on a hillock known as Gri Memo Tepesi; immediately north of the Kantara-Berferat highway and west of the Zeril Stream. Its code is T 50 / 19. |
Geography and Environment: The Gri Memo Tepesi; which was conical in shape; had many gullies carved by streams on its flanks. Chipped stone tools and fragments of tools were found especially on the eastern flank. Although the density of tools was low; it is assumed that the hill was used as a temporary habitation area or campsite. |
History: |
Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1977 by a team under Mehmet Özdogan of the University of Istanbul; Faculty of Letters; Prehistory Section; who surveyed the Lower Euphrates Basin. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
Stratigraphy: |
Small Finds: Handaxes were found both on the western and eastern flanks of Gri Memo. An Acheuléen type biface handaxe was found on the western face while the eastern face yielded a well-worn biface; side scrapers manufactured on flakes and other finds with retouched edges. Although the bifaces have both been assigned to the Lower Palaeolithic; Özdogan suggests that some of the other finds might be from the Middle Palaeolithic Period [Özdogan 1977:128]. |
Remains: |
Interpretation and Dating: |