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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Helvaci Höyücek |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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40 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Izmir |
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District:
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Aliaga |
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Village:
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Helvaci |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA I |
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| Location: It is located on the northern side of the Larisa-Eski Foça road on the west of the Aliaga-Menemen motorway; 4 km west-southwest of Helvaci Village; north-northwest of Menemen District; northwest of Izmir Province. It is locally known as Höyücek; and it was renamed as Helvaci Höyücek in order to prevent any confusion with other mounds. It is cited as Helvaci in some publications [Yakar 1985:152]; while only as Höyücek in some others [Korfmann et al. 1994:104]. The area is locally known as Üyücek. |
| Geography and Environment: It is a small hill between the vineyards and olive trees on the western part of the Asagi Gediz Plain. It is suggested that the site was near the Gediz River; even on the sea shore during the era of the settlement. Now; it is 18 km far from the sea. Traces of illicitly dug pits are observed on the surface. It has been partly damaged during the construction of the road. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was excavated for a period of one week under a team of M.S. Senyürek; H. Gültekin; E. Senyürek and A. Dönmez through a sounding in 1949. The excavation was carried out on three spots; top hill; eastern and northern slopes. It was continued in 1954. |
| Stratigraphy: Trench B of 2.4x4.5 m yielded two building levels while trench C of 2.5x9.5 m revealed three levels. The ranges of the both stratifications couldn't be related. Trench D went down till 5 m depth and yielded 5 layers [Senyürek et al. 1956:329]. The virgin soil was not reached. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Only remains of stone foundations without mortar are reported. Pottery: Intact vessels and sherds of the handmade; interiorly and exteriorly black or brown washed; burnished ware with a grit-tempered paste were recovered. Small number of sherds belongs to the unwashed and unburnished coarse kitchen ware. Also found are sherds of the interiorly brown and exteriorly black and vice versa washed ware. Limited number of the red burnished ware was recovered. Forms of Troy I settlement are common. Sherds of bowls with wide rims and inverted lips; three footed deep dishes and jugs were collected. Knob; string-hole and strip-like handles were found. Incision and negative burnished decorations were applied. There are only two sherds of exteriorly white painting decorated ware. Chipped Stone: Flakes and scrapers badly chipped from flint were found. Obsidian was employed for blades and heads [Senyürek et al. 1950:pic.28]. Ground Stone: A large stone; burnished flat axe; shaft-holed hammer-axe and bead of necklace were found. Metal: The copper awl is claimed to resemble the awls of Troy I. Fauna: Bones of mammals and mussel expose that they partly met the nourishment requirements of the inhabitants. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: All the finds reveal that Helvaci Höyücek is a settlement belonging to the beginning of EBA I or EBA II. Excavated areas did not yield the remains of Troy II; but a few sherds representing this period. |
