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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Ikiztepe |
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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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115 m |
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Region:
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Black Sea |
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Province:
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Samsun |
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District:
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Bafra |
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Village:
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Ikiztepe |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Late |
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| Location: It is located immediate north of the Ikiztepe Village; 7 km northwest of Bafra; about 55 km of Samsun. |
| Geography and Environment: The mound is situated near a location where the Kizilirmak River empties into the Black Sea; on the western bank of the river. When observed from a far location it looks as though there were two small hills; therefore it was named Ikiztepe; which suggests Twin Hills in Turkish; actually the mound consists of two large and two small hills. The hills were numbered in Roman numerals by the excavation leaders. The largest one of the hills in the south was called Hill I. Hill I is 29 m from the plain. The second hill in the north of this one is round shaped (Hill II); and it is 22.5 m from the plain. The farthest north Hill III; of all four hills is smaller than the first two in terms of height and size. The height of this hill is 12.3 m. The Hill IV in thewest of Hill II is almost 16 m in height. The size of the settlement consisting of those four hills and the area in between measures 175x375 m. The geological researches proves that the settlement which is 7 km from the sea shore at present was in fact very close to the shore during 5-3 Millenium BC; and during that period Kizilirmak reached the sea shore near the settlement. As a result of the researches it may be stated that the communities in the region were active in the sea. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered in 1941 by a team consisting of K. Kökten; T. and N. Özgüç; and re-visited by C.A. Burney [Burney 1956:181-183; 189]. Later; it was evaluated by W. Orthmann and J.A. Dengate [Orthmann 1963:64; 173-174; Dengate 1971:199]. A surface survey was conducted to reveal the cultural history of Northern Anatolia by U.B. Alkim for TTK; the Ministry of Culture; and University of Istanbul in 1971-74 around Samsun. Many new sites were added to the archaeological inventory of Turkey; and it was understood that the area was settled intensely since the Chalcolithic Age. Excavations were conducted at Ikiztepe; which is the biggest site of the region; in 1974 especially aiming to find the famous Zalpa City of Kaska; known from the Hittite texts. Revelation of EBA cemetery inside the settlement which contained rich burial gifts caused the excavations to last till this day. Very important finds were provided for the Northern Anatolia Archaeology due to the geographical situaiton and the largeness of the site. Excavations were directed by U.B. Alkim until 1980; and were taken over by Ö. Bilgi after the death of Alkim in 1981. Excavations of the last few years mostly aimed to uncover the EBA cemetery. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: Archaeologists benefit from the comparative typological chronology while dating the cultural remains of Ikiztepe excavations. It is impossible for now to give a date for the upper levels; because a document could not be found yet. Late Chalcolithic Age remains were revealed at Level III of Mound II. This level was found in a deep sounding; and virgin soil was reached below. 8 building levels belonging to this level are reported. The building levels could be observed at the trench sections rather than architectural remains. Besides the Chalcolithic Age; there are EBA 1-3; Early Hittite and Hellenistic Period settlements at four mounds of Ikiztepe and at the defiles between the mounds. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Remains; probably belonging to a big rectangular structure; were revealed at the first building level of Level III; dating to the Late Chalcolithic Age. Although burnt floors; hearths for heating; workshops; garbage pits; a few wooden post traces; intense burnt spots; and large pits were revealed; there are no wall remains. The structure is thought to be entirely wooden. Stone or wood was not used as foundations under the walls; lower drums made of thick wood are observed to be placed on earth. Walls are made of wood; partly by plastering mud over the wattle-and-daub structure. Wooden drums; filled with abundant mud in between; were also used. Remains could not be preserved; due to the rotting of the undurable material. Floors are made of wooden rafters over pressed earth; then; vertical thinner branches; and finally a mattress over mud to prevent humidity and to provide a smooth surface were placed. The roofs are thought to be curved because of abundant rain. Locations of such structures can only be found out by concentration of the finds. Structures are thought to be rectangular due to the traces of the limits of find "areas". Three superimposed hearth-altars were revealed in a structure at the 5th and 6th Phases of the Level III. These hearth-altars; made of pise; are round-shaped; and the soil is shallowly dug around them. A pit; measuring 20 cm in diameter; is located at the center. A votive bowl was recovered from the pit in one of the phases. Small; votive animal figurines were also recovered around the altars. Pottery: The Late Chalcolithic Age pottery characteristics of Black Sea Region are identified by the Ikiztepe excavations. Grit-tempered; thin pasted; hand-made ware was found. The paste is usually shiny; sometimes pale white particles due to the kind of temper [Alkim (H) 1986:99-105; pl.I-VII]. All vessels are hand-made; gray; grayish black; grayish brown slipped; well burnished; and very well fired. Therefore; the paste texture is observed to be hardened. Forms are bowls with round bodies and flat bases; vessels with rounded or bended handles over the rim; beakers; fruitstands; and jars with large flat handles at the belly. Vessels are usually undecorated. A few of them are observed to be relief; incised; and impressed decorated. Relief decorations are schematic eye and eyebrows; resembling human face. Clay: Baked clay idols are important for displaying the rituals of the Late Chalcolithic Age of Ikiztepe. Natural figurines in three dimensions were recovered as well as very abstract and extremely stylized flat figurines [Bilgi 1986:fig.1-3]. Loom weights; suggesting textile industry; and sling pallet pieces; suggesting hunting; were found. Chipped Stone: Flintstone and obsidian are reported to be used. There is no other information. Bone / Antler: Hammers made of antler were recovered. Metal: Metal technology is observed to be known by the few recovered tools from the Level III of Ikiztepe. These objects; resembling awl or pin; are made of copper. It is reported that they were made of unsmelted copper ore that contained a little amount of arsenic. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The uncalibrated 14C dates of the Late Chalcolithic Age Level III of Mound II are 3850+-106; 4140+-127; 4250+-127 BC. A village; belonging to this age; was revealed at Ikiztepe. The existence of wooden architecture; consisting of drums or tree branches filled with mud in between; is interpreted according to the excavation results. It is also observed that such architecture was not only common at this age but also in later ages. Some finds of Ikiztepe resemble finds from Black Sea Shore and Balkan Cultures. Especially the decorations are similar to Karanovo III-IV; Anza IV; Gumelnitza; Tell Azmak finds. Not much information about the Chalcolithic Age is recovered in the last few years; because of the excavation of the EBA cemetery. |
