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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Usakli Höyük |
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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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m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Yozgat |
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District:
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Sorgun |
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Village:
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Büyüktaslik |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: Usakli Höyük (formerly known as Kusakli) is located within the borders of Büyüktaslik Village of Sorgun District in Yozgat. |
| Geography and Environment: It is located a few km west of Sorgun District. Mount Kerkenes locates to its south. The settlement consists of a high mound and a slightly sloping large terrace. It extends in an area of 10 hectares, while the central mound covers an area of 2 hectares. It is situated on the souther bank of Egri Öz Creek, on the northern end of a large, fertile plain [Mazzoni et al. 2014:253]. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The settlement was recognized by E. Forrer in 1926 and H.H. von der Osten and P. Meriggi in 1927. The first archaeological survey carried out by G.D. and M.E.F Summers in 1993-1994 in the frame of the Kereknes Project [Mazzoni et al. 2010:109-110]. Between the years of 2008 and 2011, the archaeological, topographical and geological surveys were conducted in the area under the leadership of S. Mazzoni from University of Florence. In 2012, the surface scraping and collection were realized [Mazzoni et al. 2014]. The mound was initially named as Kusakli Höyük in 2008 and in 2011, the name of Usaklı Höyük began to be used. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: Architecture: During the surface scraping carried out in 2012, remains of mud bricks were encountered [Mazzoni et al. 2014]. The 2013-2015 campaigns were conducted in the Lower city and the acropolis. Four excavation areas (three of them are on the terrace and one of them locates to the mound) make possible to investigate the different occupation levels in the mound. These excavation areas were labeled A, B, C and D. In Area A located to the Lower city, remains of monumental Hittite temple dated to the LBA (14th-12th centruy BC) were exposed. A large sized Late Roman structure was encountered in Area B. The Area D on the southern slope of the acropolis yielded remains of a Hittite Palace dated to the LBA. In Area C, which extends from the summit to the base of the acropolis, the IA (8th-6th century BC) city walls of the acropolis were unearthed. This defense system composes of a high rampart erected with large stones. The rampart raises on the sloping surface [http://usaklihoyuk.org/tr/kazilar, 9.2.16, 13:24]. Pottery: During the studies, a great number of potsherds were recovered. Among the identifiable wares, there are Middle and Late IA Painted wares (so called Phrygian and Alishar IV-V ware), red slipped and burnished wares belonging to the MBA and LBA [Mazzoni et al. 2014]. Clay: Six Hittite cuneiform tablets belonging to the 14th and 13th century BC were found [http://usaklihoyuk.org/tr/kazilar, 9.2.16, 13:24]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The imposing presence of Mount Kerkenes has in fact been evaluated as an important argument for identifying Usaklı as Zippalanda, one of the cult centers of the Storm God. The position of the settlement fits well with the geographical setting of the journey of the Hittite King to the town of Zippalanda mentioned in the Hittite sources. The presence of late 2nd millenium sherds, the sealed clay and Hittite tablets, recovered as the results of the surveys, and the Hittite Temple exposed during the excavation supports this idea [Mazzoni et al. 2014:258; http://usaklihoyuk.org/tr/kazilar, 9.2.16, 13:24]. |
