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Yesilova

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Yeşilova
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 m
Region:
 Aegean
Province:
 Izmir
District:
 Bornova
Village:
 Karacaoglan
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:

     

Location: The mound lies in Karacaoğlan quarter of Bornova District in Izmir Province. It locates nearby Manda Stream; east of Isikkent Campus; southwest of Bornova High School.
Geography and Environment: It is partly in the vicinity of Bornova District public area and partly in the land that belongs to Çimentas. It is known that the surrounding territory was covered with fertile vegetation and there were lots of water sources around at the time the mound was settled. Also the sea was 2 km inside at that period.
History:
Research and Excavation: Yesilova Höyügü was discovered in 2003. Excavations started in 2005 by a team conducted by Z. Derin from Ege University Department of Archaeology in collaboration with Izmir Archaeology Museum. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: The excavations started around the big hole formed after the soil removal made by municipality. After cleaning some of the rubble an investigative trench (L16b) opened at the section where the cultural layers can be seen and in this trench stratigraphy of the settlement is clearly determined. Besides this one; trenches L16a; K16d and the second investigative trench K16c were excavated. In order to uncover the architectural remains on wide areas and the northern extension of the settlement; trenches M17 and L21 were opened. First results of the excavation exhibited that there are 3 cultural layers at the site. The surface of the mound is covered with alluvial soil approximately 1 m thick. There is a Neolithic Age settlement in Layer 3 which is 3-4 m thick and dated to 8000 BP. After this period; which is reported to be most period of the site; comes Chalcolithic Age settlement dated to 6000 BP. It is suggested that the site is abandoned after this period because of the flood caused by Manda Stream and the people living there moved to Bornova and Yassitepe mounds that are above the level of the stream. The pithos grave uncovered at the upper levels of the settlement suggested that the mound was used as a cemetery in EBA. Based on the 2013 studies, the stratigraphy of the mound as follows [Derin et al. 2015:452]: Level I A. Byzantine-Roman Period (10 BC-290 AD) B. Iron Age (1050 BC) C. Bronze Age (LBA, MBA, EBA) EBA has 7 building levels (a-h); (3020-2830 BC) Level II (Chalcolithic) Middle Chalcolithic has 2 building levels (a-b) (4340-4230 BC) Level III (Neolithic) [This level consists of 8 building levels so far, Building level 1 has 6 phases (a-f)] Building level 2-Neolithic III (6000-5730 BC) Building level 5-Neolithic II (6250-6060 BC) Building level 8-Neolithic I In 2014, the studies were carried out in the trial tench H 15 c in order to detect the levels in Yassitepe. In 2013, this trench was dug until the elevation of 15.60 and the elevation of 13.45 was reached this year. The building level IIB8 was determined between the elevations of 16.00-15.20. Then, it was dug until the elevation of 1.25 m in order to find any cultural level under the alluvion layer. Since no cultural layer could be determined, it is possible to say that the bedrock was reached. The current stratigraphy of the area as follows: Area VI Level I: Roma Level II: BA A. MBA B. EBA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Level III: Chalcolithic 1, 2 [Derin 2016:165;167]. The studies conducted in 2015 caused some changes to the stratigraphy of Yesilova Mound. Especially Bronze Age finds had a role in these changes. The renewed stratigraphy as it follows: Level I: Roman Period (10 BC-290 AD) Level II: Bronze Age A. Middle Bronze Age B. Early Bronze Age Level III: Chalcolithic 1 and 2 (4340-4230 BC) HIATUS Level IV: Neolithic 1. a, b, c, d, e, fÉ 2. Neolithic III (6000-5730 BC) 3. 4. 5. Neolithic II (6250-6060 BC) 6. 7. (6490-6250 BC) 8. Neolithic I [Derin et al. 2017:145].
Small Finds: Architectural Finds: The last phase of the Neolithic settlement was revealed over an extensive area during the 2008 campaign. The J16 and M12 grid squares yielded slightly curved fragments of foundation stones, pole housing supported by surrounding stones, base of a kiln made of clay lining on cobbled deposits and fragment of a stone pavement. Based on this data, it is likely that there have been buildings with stone foundations, mud-walls and oval or rounded plan, and the stone foundation with a width of 0.50-0.60 m and kiln remains uncovered from the J16 plan square have been documented as an architectural phase. The stone foundations consist of a single row of superimposed stones and two rows of adjacent stones. The K16b plan square yielded orderly or disorderly stones related with architectural remains [Derin 2010:479]. A flood layer containing pebbles which are spread around the field is excavated in 2009 in Plan Square J8 around 17.75 m level. Intense amount of adobe stacks are encountered below the pebble layer which is a first occasion. It is observed that the adobe bricks are made by hand, without using casts. It is also observed that stone walls under these superstructure elements which belong to the walls are constructed of mostly one row. Since the excavation was carried out in a narrow field the plans of the adobe bricks could not be identified since they are scattered around. However upon excavating part of the building with the grinding stones and vessels inside show the necessity of excavating a wider field. Three separate architecture levels are identified consisting of stone founded structures in Plan Squares L12 and L11. It is observed that architecture remains are more intense after Level III.1. Three different structures are identified in this field from Neolithic Period. Rectangular planned structures have foundations made of one row of medium sized stones which are usually between 0.70 and 0.90 m thick and between 0.50 and 0.60 m high. While some of its walls are destructed structure 1 is a rectangular building with 6.00 by 7.50 m in size (measured externally) and it is among the independently constructed buildings. Some of the walls of the structure are destructed for being too close to the surface, and only the North and Southwest walls are preserved to date. Around planned furnace-oven is unearthed in the East of the room which has the stone paved grinding stones in the Southwest. Some evidences are encountered suggesting the use of adobe bricks that are manually formed -as is the case in Trench J8- over the stone foundations of the single-room structure. Southeast of the structure is stone paved. Though grinding stone and mortar for using in daily tasks are located inside the structure, it is also observed that the structure is used as a stone processing workshop at the same time. Stone axes made of serpentine found in the East of the room as well as unprocessed mass of the same stone prove this hypothesis. The second structure is unearthed in the Northwest corner of the field. Though this excavation is not covering a wide part of the structure the upper and lower grinding stones suggest that is was used as a workshop such as a kitchen. The excavated architecture remains show that the structures that belong to last level of Neolithic, i.e. Level III.1 are built independently. Architecture remains from the end of Neolithic Period located in Plan Squares JK16 are also stone founded. The rest of the wall excavated in 2009 is analyzed and it is found that the 0.40 m thick stone foundation is preserved around 4.50 m. Layers III.1-3 which represent Last Neolithic Period consist of rectangular planned stone founded individual structures [Derin 2011: 316-317]. In 2010, 3 structures were exposed in Area IIa. The structures are with stone foundations and rectangular shaped. They were built as detached. It was discovered that the structures with one room were built in a line by withdrawing to the west and their doors facing to the south were placed in the middle of the long walls. It was found that the spaces between the structures were used as a workshop because of the grinding and ground stones recovered in large quantity. Mudbrick blocks indicate the presence of thin walls formed with moulding. If this is the case, there could be thin walls with a thickness of 10-15 cm built on 60-70 cm stone foundations with a roof supported by wooden posts. The remains of three structures in Area IIa and the location and the architectural features of the structures found IIb show that the structures were detached but built closely in radial plan as sawtooth. The doors of the structures were placed on the long walls and the doors open to the courtyard on the south side. The courtyards are considered as open areas where people living in these structures do their daily actives and which contain a honeycomb used as grain storage. In Trench J8, an almost 10 cm thick fired level was encountered. The studies carried out in Area VI show that the settlement was inhabited continuously from the end of Neolithic and to Roman Period [Derin 2012:40-45]. In 2011, remain of a single row of stone foundation was found at the depth of 18.45 m in the area numbered I. In the area numbered II, remains of 4 ovens that aligned in circular plan were exposed in the court section on the east of the structure numbered 2. These findings demonstrate that the open areas located on the east of the structures dated to the end of Neolithic were used as workshop for daily activities. In Area II b, in the phases of III 1 a and b, the compacted mud walls of the houses numbered 4 and 5 were built on stone foundations as in the houses in Area II a. The houses numbered 4 and 5 and the surrounding area were damaged by fire as the ones in Area II a. Remains of mudbrick walls which turns to red due to the fire entirely covered the houses. Among these remains, large slabs of the straw tempered compacted wall with a thickness of 3-4 cm were found. It is also observed that these walls were erected as thin shear wall on the thick stone foundation. During the studies carried out in the house numbered 4, the north and east walls of stone foundation and southwest corner of the structure were discovered. On the north of the house, during the excavations that have been conducting for two years in the plan squares of I8 c-d, remains of heavily burnt mudbrick were were exposed. A large amount of stones that scattered in a wide area were found below these remains. These remains, which cover an area of 2 m, slope 40 cm towards the south. In the east-west direction, the preserved length of the house numbered 4 is 8 m from outside and it is 6. 90 m long from inside. It is possible to say that it is about 8 m long in the north-south direction. The stone foundation of the house is 0.60-0.70 m thick. A cell that was formed with thin walls was exposed in front of the east wall of the house. The floor was neatly covered with medium sized flat stones. It is 0.80 m in width and 1 m in depth. The preserved thin walls with a height of 0.50 m are 0.25 m in thickness. During the studies conducted in the house numbered 5, the west corner of the stone foundation wall and some parts of the south wall were exposed. 2.50 m of the west wall was preserved. Based on the current data, the length of the house measures 9 m in the north-south direction and the interior is 7.7 m long. The current length of north wall of the house, which extends towards the east -unexcavated area-, is 6.7 m. A part with a length of 1.10 m belonging to the south wall of the house was exposed [Derin-Caymaz 2013:120-122]. The excavations carried out in Area I in 2012 show that the Late Neolithic occupational layer (III 1) has two phases. Remains of a structure were encountered in the south of the old stream bed in Area II. Two foundation walls (one of them extends in the north-south direction and the other one reaches in the east-west direction) were exposed. The north section of the structure has been damaged by the stream. To the east and south of this structure, a group of stones showing no particular plan are located. This stones probably belong to other structures. It was determined that the walls of the houses were built with mud brick on stone foundation [Derin-Caymaz 2014]. In 2013, remains of stone foundation belonging to the north section of Room E7 were exposed in Area IIa in Level III1a. These remains belong to two walls that merge. The north wall is 7 m in length and the west wall is preserved 3 m in length. The walls of the building sit on the stone foundations built with a single row of stones. The thickness of these foundations is about 0.40-0.50 m. The walls were built in the form of curtain wall in pise technique to a certain extent. Mudbricks were formed as plaques and the mud contains a high density of chaff. Pile of burnt mudbrick was found inside the structure. õt is possible that the structure has damaged due to fire. The structure has a flat floor and walls with a length of about 8-9 m like the other structures. It is a large building. Including this building, the number of the buildings exposed in Area II reaches up to seven. It is observed that these buildings aligned on an oval line in the north-south direction. The distance between these independent buildings in rectangular plan ranges from 1 m to 5 m. All the buildings were constructed on stone foundation. The roofs were supported by wooden posts. The walls were built with mud blocks in pise technique. Level III1b is represented by a stone pavement with a dimension of about 3x1 m. The studies carried out in Area IIIb yielded remains of oven. These remains were found in the plan square J7c. The oven measures 0.90x1 m from outside and its inner section is 0.70x0.60 m in dimension. Its mouth is 0.45 m in width. The walls were built with moulded mudbrick. The inner and outer sections of these walls were plastered. A small sized mudbrick platform was found in the west of the mouth of the ocean. Potsherds and ground stone fragments were found around the oven. In the plan square J7d and J6c, the walls belonging to the east of Structure E5 were exposed. The northeast corner of the structure has been damaged by a modern well. Only 2 m of its east wall was preserved. The south wall of this structure measures 3.50 m in length. The southeast corner has been damaged as well. The studies show that the structure measures 10x9.50 m. In the northeast section of the structure, two chambers were found. The floor of the chamber located in front of the north wall was paved with flat stones. It is seen that the oven was built on the northeast corner of the room unlike the other structures. Three ovens, two of which are located inside the buildings and one is in the external area, were discovered. During the studies conducted in Area III, traces of floors and fire were seen in Level III 4-8. Architectural remains are scarce [Derin et al. 2015].: During the cleaning studies conducted in Space E5 in Area IIb, mudbrick remains were exposed under the stone foundation wall. An oven belonging to the earlier level (III1b) and mud brick walls measuring 0.53 m in width, 2.20 m in length in the north-south direction and 2.70 m in the east-west direction were found. These walls are adjacent to the oven. This new space was named E8. It is determined that this space was built with mud brick walls on the contrary to the structures belonging to upper levels. It underwent a massive fire. The walls of Space E8 were built as mud brick blocks. However, the way the blocks were used is quite different. The mud brick walls were built in caisson technique. The walls were completely erected with mud brick blocks and the spaces were filled with mud and mud brick fragments. This type of masonry is the first example seen in Yassitepe [Derin et al. 2016:161]. The 2015 studies were carried out in Trench K7, K8 and J9 in Area IIb. There are stone groups consisting of 3 stones near the southeast area of Trench J9d. It is found out that these stones were arranged in order to support the wooden post in the courtyard. It is suggested that there could be a roofed pentice that was used for daily activities. It is observed that the cultural soil with mud brick debris recovered from the trenches has generally soft and moist texture. Almost all areas contain mud brick debris but no particular architectural remains were defined. Although the site yielded a great number of finds, not a large number of architectural remains were determined [Derin et al. 2017:146]. Pottery: There are approximately 15 thousand amorphous potsherds collected, including fragments of cooking and storage pots and ladles and spoons among these potsherds. The pottery uncovered during the excavations in 2008 indicate an advanced level both in technical and esthetical aspects. The well-cooked ceramics are mainly red-washed and burnished. This phase is characterized by large pots/jars and large shallow bowls. There are also fragments with impressed decorations [Derin 2010:480]. Yellow and reddish brown-washed and burnished samples constitute a majority of the middle phase pottery [Derin 2010:481]. Potteries captured in Plan Square J8 in 2009 showed that the level which has been ended with fire and the flooded is from Neolithic Layer III.1. The potteries lost their features due to intense heat with some parts melted. Many good quality potteries are found among and around the adobe ruins. Especially those with red burnish are interesting. A relief like the mother goddess exists on a vessel. Red slipped pots, bowls and pot-like vessels, corona-rimmed large vessels, pieces of pots that are made by impressing technique and potteries with reliefs are captured in Levels III.1-3 [Derin 2011: 316-318]. In 2010, the wares recovered from Area IIb show similarity with the ones found previously, together with their red, reddish-yellow and red-brown slips. Among the wares, there are bowls and necked jars and S profiled bowls. Neolithic and Chalcolithic pottery were found together at the elevations between 17.35 and 16.85 in Area III [Derin 2012:43]. There are no differences between the potsherds recovered from the areas belonging to the phases III.1 a-b in 2011. These wares containing a few coarsely made potsherds are generally well made. The paste contains grits and mica. The size of the mica temper is sparse and medium. All of the sherds are well fired. The surfaces are commonly slipped. It is observed that both surfaces of the open vessels are slipped. Most of the vessels are slightly burnished while some of them are finely burnished. The pastes are red and brown colored; the colors of the slip are red. There are a few sherds with cream and brown colored surfaces. Red colored monochrome vessels bear the characteristics of the phases III.1 a-b. Among the pottery that were found during the studies carried out in 2011, the shallow bowls with everted or straight rims, deep bowl with straight or flaring rims, S-profiled vessels with a rim diameter of 10-20 cm are noteworthy. Apart from these, low necked jars with a rim diameter of 10-20 cm, jars with cylindrical or conical neck, corona-rimmed jars with a rim diameter of over 30 cm, jars with relief bands that are represented by a few samples are among the most common forms. The tubular lugs are common. The profiles of the base are slightly high and simple and the shapes of the base are even, slightly curved, round or oval. The bases belonging to large jars recovered from the house numbered 4 are 12-20 cm in diameter [Derin-Caymaz 2013:123-124]. The potsherds found in Level III 1 in 2012 comprise red slipped burnished wares. The wares in cream, brown and yellowish red colors are rarely seen. Almost all wares are well fired. The surfaces are generally slipped and burnished. Thick walled potsherds belonging to storage pots are found in large number. Vertical tubular lugs are commonly applied on jars. Unperforated lugs in pipe form exist as well. Some of the sherds bear impressed decoration made by nail or tip of a pointed object [Derin-Caymaz 2014]. The studies conducted in Area IIa in 2013 show that all three levels yielded similar pottery. Among red faced and well-fired potsherds, storage pots are common. The wares belonging to Level III 4-8 found in Area III consist of yellowish red / orange, light yellow, pink and brown faced vessels. There are straight-necked jars, straight sided or slightly S profiled bowls among the forms [Derin et al. 2015]. During the 2014 excavations carried out in Area IIb, a cup with handle, a large sized pot with tripod, spouted pitchers, lids, pots, spindle whorl, a spouted pitcher and bone tools belonging to Yassitepe Level IIB2 were found. In the plan square H19, an incomplete pithos was found in the center of the room. Between the elevations of 17.20 to 17.10 m, a disc shaped miniature lid and spouted pitcher sherds were found in the square a [Derin et al. 2016:164-165]. A large number of amorphous potsherds were found in Trench K7a in 2015. These sherds bear the characteristics of Level IV 1a-b. Some of these sherds slagged due to the fire. Potsherds were also found in Trench J9d in Level IV 1a-b. The majority of the sherds are in good quality. The paste is grit and mica tempered. The firing is generally well. The surfaces are mostly reddish yellow and red brown slipped. The common forms are: convex or straight-sided shallow bowls that were also seen in Kuruçay Level 12 and 11, Ilõpinar VIII-I, Hoca Çesme II-4 and Ulucak IV; open or straight-sided deep bowls that were also seen in Ulucak IV, Hoca Çesme II-4 and 3, Kuruçay Level 12, Höyücek EYD Level 2 and 1; S profiled bowls that were also seen from the earliest levels of Western Anatolian sites such as Ulucak IV, Kuruçay 13-8, Höyücek EYD 2-1; and short-necked jars also known from Hacilar IX-VI, Höyücek EYD, Ilõpinar IX-VIII, Hoca Çesme II-4. The bases are generally round and ring shaped [Derin et al. 2017:145-147]. Clay: A baked earth mother goddess idol; resembling the ones in Neolithic layers of Höyücek was found. The number of seals mostly with a deep stamp impression recovered from the Yesilova III layers 1-2 since 2005 has reached to a total of eight together with their handles. One of the seals found in 2008 has a motif of concentric circles while another has a spiral motif [Derin 2010:480]. Baked earth ware bench weights are found in the East of Plan Square J8d in 2009. The existence of textile production is proved with this finding group in this area for the first time. Baked earth ware figurines are also among the findings captured [Derin 2011: 318]. During the 2011 studies, a pile of clay prepared for pottery manufacturing was recovered on the corner where large amount of pottery clusters found in the house numbered 4. Another small pile of clay was found outside of the east wall of the house. Also, two rounded and quadrangular shaped lamps were found [Derin-Caymaz 2013:121-124]. A clay head was found in the plan square J7c in 2013. The eyebrows and supraorbital sections were depicted as incision and the eyes and ears were made in relief. In the plan square J9d, two scoop handles in the form of Mother Goddess were found [Derin et al. 2015]. Chipped Stone: Flintstone blades; perforators and scraping tools were found. There were also arrowheads and knives among the finds. The 2008 campaign revealed that the settlement had an advanced shipped stone industry. There are abundant number of various chipped stone tools and cores and scraps. The plan squares J16 and M12 yielded abundant number of scattered or clustered ground and mortar stones at the same level with the remains. A flintstone workshop was uncovered in the plan square M12b at 17.70 m, including an assemblage of big cutters and scrapers [Derin 2010:479]. Serpentine axes, stamp, flint scrapers and choppers, arrowheads and spearheads, pestles, grinding stones and ground stones were found in Area IIb in 2010 [Derin 2012:43]. Flint and obsidian tools and knapping waste were found in Trench J9 in 2015. The density of cutters, scrapers and blades in flint tools are noteworthy. The excavated area also yielded flint cores [Derin et al. 2017:147]. Ground Stone: Marble and limestone wares were found. In 2009 serpentine cutters, axes, tools made of obsidian and flint stone are captured [Derin 2011: 318]. During the studies carried out in 2011, stone celts, grinding and ground stones, channeled burnishing stone and flint tools and their fragments were found [Derin-Caymaz 2013:124]. A ground stone was found in the southeast corner of Trench J8d in 2015. 3 ground stones were also recovered from the east of Trench J9d [Derin et al. 2017:145, 146]. Bone/Antler: A bone idol and bone tools used for leather processing were found. Spatulae, awls and pendants were found during the 2014 studies conducted in Yassitepe Level IIB8 [Derin et al. 2016: 165]. Plant Remains: Charred kernels were uncovered at two separate locations in the plan square M12 during the 2008 campaign [Derin 2010:479]. Animal Remains: There were wild cattle; pig and deer bones found. Other: Mussel and snail shells were found. Aso necklaces made of shells and stones were yielded.
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The Neolithic layers uncovered in Yesilova Höyügü keep traces of the oldest known settlement in Izmir. Studies on dating of the finds are still being continued. Based on the excavations in 2008, the Neolithic Period covering layers 1 to 8 at a depth of 4 m under the surface is dated to 6500 BC and earlier. The Neolithic people probably abandoned the site between 5800-5700 BC due to natural reasons. A short-period settlement was founded at the level II approximately after 1000 years during the Chalcolithic Age by a new group of outlanders. It appears that part of the mound had been used as an EBA cemetery after it was completely abandoned following the Chalcolithic Age [Derin 2010:476-477]. One of the seals recovered in 2008 has a concentric circle motif, which are common in a wide geography extending throughout Anatolia to Balkans. Ones with spiral motif were also found at Bademagaci (EN II) and Ege Gübre. This type of seals which had spread to many sites along with Aegean and Mediterranean regions like a fashion also indicate that private properties also developed in line with the agricultural development in such regions [Derin 2010:480]. One of the interesting finds uncovered at Yesilova Mound is related with nutrition. Samples from the earth indicated that they grew wheat, lentils and barley. Furthermore, they collected and consumed bivalves such as mussels and univalves such as limpet and snails. In addition, they hunted and ate wild animals such as boars and deers as well as sheep and goat breeding and stock farming [Derin 2010:481-482]. Although 8 EBAI levels and 2 Chalcolithic levels were determined in the trial trench in 2014, neither architectural remains nor pottery belonging to MBA, LBA and Roman Period were detect outside the center of the mound. As it was stated in 2005 based on the data obtained from the center of Yesilova Mound, the settlement was founded in the center and expanded towards Yassitepe during Chalcolithic and continued during EBA I. This data suggests that the settlement might have been expanded towards Ipeklikuyu Mound near the settlement [Derin et al. 2016:166].


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