|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Girmeler (Gebeler) Magarasi Önü |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Mound |
|
Altitude:
|
m |
|
Region:
|
Aegean |
|
Province:
|
Mugla |
|
District:
|
Seydikemer |
|
Village:
|
Girmeler |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: It is situated in Girmeler (formerly known as Gebeler) Village in Seydikemer District of Mugla Province. It is located 5 km far from Kemer; 30 km south of Fethiye [Bayrak 1994:497] (See Gebeler / Gebelen). It locates 5 km northwest to the ancient city of Tlos. It is situated on the eastern side of the village, on the west end of a rocky ridge in the valley of Esen Creek. |
| Geography and Environment: |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The excavations directed by T. Korkut were initiated with the collaboration of Akdeniz University and German Archaeological Institute within the scope of Tlos excavations. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: Architecture: As a result of the studies, it was determined that the settlement had an appearance of a hill / mound extending from both galleries of the cave to the north. Since it was destructed, this mound appearance had deformed. There are two galleries on the steep slope of the rock in the north. These were labeled as A and B. It was assumed that the mound was with a diameter of about 55 m and a height of 6.8 m. The cultural layers were encountered in front of the entrances [Becks-Becks 2013]. At the entrance of Cave A on the east, occupation layers belonging to Hellenistic and Roman periods were seen on the upper layers, in front of the cave wall. The uppermost layer of those is dated to Late Neolithic based on the pottery. Also, burnt human skeletons were found on the west of this area. The bone necklace, goddess figurine and god idol, which were found near those, suggest that this area could be related to the burials. The layer where the burials were exposed is dated to the second half of 8th millennium BC. On the layer at the entrance of Cave B, traces of occupation dated to Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman and Hellenistic periods were seen. An entrance belonging to a third cave was discovered as well and it was named as "Cave C". Potsherds and flint flakes were found inside the pit on the plain area between the entrances of A and C [Korkut 2012:463-464]. The earliest remains were obtained from the Sounding 1 that is located immediately in front of the rock, which forms the cave wall, about 4.5 m west of the Gallery A. The Sounding 1 yielded a great number of ashy layers. 14C analysis of the charcoal sample taken from these ashy layers indicates the second quarter of the 9th millennium BC (8780-8530 cal BC). This date corresponds to the Pre-pottery Neolithic Period in Southeast and Central Anatolia. However, this period began a bit later in the Lakes Region. Therefore, it is possible to date the remains recovered from Girmeler Magarasi to Epipalaeolithic Period [Becks-Becks 2013]. However, this issue is still controversial. The studies carried out in 2012 yielded remains dated to Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic periods [Korkut 2014:109]. During the 2013 studies, Sounding A was enlarged and the level in which hearths were exposed in the previous season was reached. In this area, a solid floor built with very small stones and slaked lime. It is found out that this floor was renewed three times. The postholes found on the floor indicate the existence of a hut-like structure. Fragments of bone awls were recovered from the fill and the upper levels. In Trench A, the excavations were carried out in an area of 1x1 m and the red soil fill was reached. Inside this fill, flint tools and faunal remains were found. The 14C dates obtained from this area indicate that the occupation dates back to 8500 BC. The surface material of Sounding C in the east of Gallery B of the cave is mixed. Below the surface, red soil fill containing flint tools and animal bones in high density was exposed. It is revealed that white colored fills seen on the section of Trench D opened in front of Gallery A belong to terrazzo floor made out of slaked lime. A wall built with wood and mud was found and this wall is related to the floors. The inner and outer surfaces of the wall are covered with a thick layer of lime plaster. All of this data indicate the existence of a structure with terrazzo floor in this area. The structure was renewed and used for a long time. The structures with terrazzo floors are known from the settlements such as Çayönü, Nevali Çori, Asikli Höyük, Hacilar, Bademagaci and Ulucak. It is believed that these buildings have been used for ritualistic purposes. The burnt layers seen below the terrazzo floor make one think that the lifetime of structure ended with a fire. Terrazzo floors and burnt layers were seen in the east of the section as well. In this area, four buildings with terrazzo floor were built side by side in front of the cave. It is believed that these buildings were used for ritualistic purposes. The potsherds found in Girmeler share similarity to the wares of Lakes Region belonging to Early Neolithic. Therefore, it is possible that the structures are dated around 7000 BC [Korkut 2015:643]. Chipped Stone: In Trench A and Sounding C, thin and long blades, rounded scrapers and borers were found [Korkut 2015:642]. Human Remains: During the studies carried out in Sounding C in 2013, a burial was found at the bottom of the rocks. This Neolithic burial is in hocker position [Korkut 2015:642]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The studies carried out in the lower levels of the mound show that the fill with a thickness of about 2 m belongs to Pre-Pottery Neolithic. The 14C date, 8000 BC that was obtained in 2012 indicates that these levels of Girmeler are contemporary with the Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlements like Boncuklu and Asikli Höyük in Central Anatolia. The site is contemporary with Pre-Pottery Neolithic levels of Öküzini Cave of Antalya as well. No traces of microlith tools were found. The chipped stone industry indicates a Neolithic culture with Epipalaeolithic tradition. In the Aegean Mesolithic, flake industry is dominant and there is no blade industry. Therefore, Girmeler differs from the Aegean Mesolithic. The chipped stone industry of Epipalaeolithic levels of Öküzini Cave doesn't resemble the ones found in Girmeler. The architectural remains exposed in Girmeler indicate an advanced architecture as in Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlements in Central Anatolia. Therefore, it is more plaudible to date these levels of Girmeler to Pre-Pottery Neolithic rather than Epipalaeolithic / Mesolithic Period [Korkut 2015:644]. |
