©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Ikiztepe

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İkiztepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 115 m
Region:
 Black Sea
Province:
 Samsun
District:
 Bafra
Village:
 Ikiztepe
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 EBA III EBA II EBA I

     

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: The Ikiztepe mound was excavated for a period that can be considered a long time for the prehistoric settlements of Anatolia. The below stratification is presented on the basis of the excavations carried out on the uphill and the neck between the hills until the end of 1999: Hill I I (levels 1-6): Intermediate Cemetery: EBA III Ia-b: EBA II II (levels 1-5): EBA I Late Chalcolithic: Late Cha. Age Virgin soil The Neck between Hill I-II I (levels 1-2): Intermediate II (levels 1-2): EBA III III (levels 1-10): EBA II IV (levels 1-5): EBA I Hill II I (levels 1-2): EBA II II (levels 3-8): EBA I III (levels 1-8): Late Cha. Age Virgin soil Hill III I (levels 1-2): Intermediate II (levels 1-4): EBA III III (levels 5-19): EBA II Hill IV I: Intermediate Virgin soil In 2006 an average depth of 1.80 m was reached to reach the virgin soil; and building layers were found at three different locations on on Hill I [Bilgi 2008:273].
Small Finds: Architecture (descending order): EBA III: Remains uncovered at Hill III provided evidence for the construction techniques and settlement plan of this period. The wooden houses are spread into the village in groups; but in free-standing order [Bilgi 1999a:pic.23]. They have four-cornered plans; sizes varying from 25 to 70 squaremeters; and they were built by combining the untreated heavy logs in framework technique (superimposing on each other). The floors are coated with compressed clayed earth. Some houses built with particular care have boarded floors. The curved beam cavities on the lateral edges of the clay floors expose that the buildings have no stone foundations. When the ground was not smooth; the level differences were eliminated by wooden post bases [Bilgi 1999a:pic.12]. In order to prevent the decay of the lowest logs; the foremen of EBA placed flat stones randomly under them. The ceiling was of wooden again; and the straight or inverse bifurcated wooden frame was covered with dried weed and rush in order to make it watertight [Bilgi 1999c:201]. The spaces between the logs were plastered outside for isolation. The houses are single or multi-roomed. The traces of the pillar holes expose the presence of an apprentice in the outer side of the entrance wall. Single-apprenticed [Bilgi 1999a; pic.6b] and double-apprenticed models [Bilgi 1999a:pic.8b] are observed. The presence of windows is questionable. However it is only an assumption that there were small windows near the ceiling. The entrances have stone or clay doorposts to open the wooden doors easily. The setting of kilns and hearths were not identified. Each house usually has a ringed fence courtyard. The courtyards are observed to have setting for monumental kilns and hearths. The kiln is suggested to be capped by a light material (apprentice). The presence of working benches next to these kilns exposes that the daily life went on in the courtyards rather than inside the houses. An interesting construction technique was applied in the monumental kilns. The dome was first built as an enclosure by the wands twisted when they were green; and then the upper and lower part of this dome were plastered in a thick layer. The excavator claims that a kiln and its surrounding uncovered in building level 2 accompanied with many idols is a cult area [Bilgi 1999d:202]. Likewise; a spouted crucible recovered in front of the kiln exposes that the metal casting was performed here. It is also noted that pottery was produced in the courtyard and fired in these kilns. Also; there are pits full of clay where the pottery was left to rest after being tempered. Those courtyards are; probably; squares shared by many families for producing pottery and idols; casting metal; cooking and organizing religious ceremonies. It should be noted that these fenced areas were also used as stables [Bilgi 1999a:65]. During the 2001 season earth floors representing EBA III were uncovered. Cavities of horizontal beams belonging to a two roomed wooden structure were determined on a floor which underwent a fire. The first structure; which was constructed in the north-south direction and measures 6.95x2.50 m; consists of three different rooms built one next to another. The walls have an average thickness of 20 cm and because the possible beam cavity of the first room to the north was within the section; the northern border of the structure was not determined. The first room of the structre measures 3.30x2.25 m; the second one in the middle 1x2.25 m and the third one to the south 2.75x2.50 m. It was observed that the second structure that lies in the east-west direction; 0.70 m south of this structure; has a similar plan. Two other floors with beam cavities that indicate rectangular planned wooder structures were also uncovered [Bilgi 2003:18;19]. EBA II: The architectural remains of EBA I and III uncovered in the lower levels of the hill are almost identical to the EBA II. It also yielded ruins and floors which underwent a massive fire just like phase III. The presence of working benches; plenty of loomweights and combs in the four-cornered houses exposes a dense textile/carpet industry. Likewise; the casting moulds recovered from the atelier with a monumental kiln in the building level 8 of Hill III indicate that cast moulding was performed inside the village. During 2003 season excavations compressed earth floors belonging to architectural layers 5 and 6 were uncovered on Hill I. Excavations on Hill I continued in 2005 season and virgin soil was reached. 6 architectural layers were found and three of them (beginning from virgin soil) dated to EBA I and the other three layer dated to the early phase of EBA II. The kiln; which was uncovered in trench M at the northern slope of Hill I; was cleaned for a further investigation in 2005 season. It was observed that the oven was seriously damaged after a strong fire. It is reported that the oven was located in a square platform extending in east direction and was part of a working place kind of complex [Bilgi 2006a:19]. The 2005 excavations were resumed at Tepe I; architectural layers were found at 6 different levels; at the soundings placed before reaching the ground. Only the three architectural layers of EBA II culture; located on EBA I; and the three phase EBA I culture above the ground especially were determined following the analysis on the east-west cross-section [Bilgi 2007:117]. The remains of a workshop; which went through a fire; and seriously destructed were revealed among the architectural layers of EBA I; first phase. This workshop; was actually found during the researches that took place in 2004. It has a rectangular plan; and it consists of a monumental furnace inside the building. The analysis of the debris found inside the trench at EBA I; second phase; near the northern edge are also assumed to belong to a furnace. EBA I third phase apparently sits on the ground at 19.75 m depth [Bilgi 2007:118]. Architectural remains only are found at the layer 6 of EBA II phase 3; from bottom up. Following the researches it was found that those were remains of a furnace which went through a fire disaster [Bilgi 2007:118]. In 2006 the excavations on Hill I resumed on the northern hill. Building remains were found on the layer one and three; of the three layers on three different levels that laid on the virgin soil. The traces of the horizontal burnt logs between the remains of 25 cm thick heavily burnt plaster inside the building layer 1 shows the plan of the building and also suggests that this building consisted of smaller rooms around the larger room in the center. The building layer 3 contains the remains of a burnt wooden building with a grill plan on the floor level which was laid on the virgin soil at 19.10 m depth. In addition to this remains of three furnaces meant for different purposes were completely found along with their workshops [Bilgi 2008:273-274]. The 2007 researches were performed in two different sections on the north slope of Tepe I at "trench M" and "trench N". 9 building levels were identified inside trench N and the first four building levels that can be traced in the cross-sections and on the basin that was revealed, were dated to EBA III period, the two levels that follow were dated to EBA II, and the final three levels that sit on the ground were dated to EBA I. 3 building levels sitting on top of each other were unearthed inside trench M that covers an area approximately of 125 m2. No building remains or their traces were found on the first and second building levels. Traces of a wooden building were found on the heavily burned floor of the third building level that sits on the ground. 3 building levels were identified inside the second area that covers an area approximately of 50 m2 at trench M [Bilgi 2009:327-329]. 2008 excavations were performed in trench M on north slope of Tepe I in an area that measures 250 m2 and 4 levels of architecture were unearthed. The south section of remains of a heavily destroyed structure were observed in architecture level 1. In level 2 south side of the traces of the remains of a wooden structure covering 100 m2 of area and deep holes left behind from foundation logs of another 2 room wooden structure and the remains of a kiln on floor level were observed. In level 3 the floor cover over the base logs of a burnt and destroyed wooden structure was ideintified. In level 4 the only remains belonged to a burnt floor [Bilgi 2010:370-371]. The excavations continued in Trench M in Hill I during 2009. 2 independent piles of debris made of clay plasters are found in Architecture Layer 2 in the middle of the base. The remains in the South are found to be carefully constructed workshops made of clay and stone and another construction containing an oven that is destructed in a severe fire. The Architecture Layer 3 in the West side of the trench contains heavily burnt and destructed clay plaster remains and a blackened clay floor. The destructed plaster remains are believed to be part of a somewhat large oven. A pile of debris is partially unearthed in Architectural Layer 3 [Bilgi 2011: 440-441 During the 2010 excavation campaign, the excavation continued in Trench "O" which slopes towards the south to the north. In this trench, the fill with a depth of 6.30 m was removed and the removing the fill continued in different plan squares. As a result of this study, 6 architectural layers were discovered. These architectural layers are dated between 2100 BC and 1700 BC (i.e. between the end of EBA III and 3rd phase of MBA) [Bilgi 2012:91-94]. In 2011 excavations, the deepening activities were continued in Trench "O" and the continuation of the architectural layer which is regarded as Phase 6 of the cultural layer was exposed. Based on the finds which was recovered from the burnt rubble remains of the plan square of D11/II 13, it is dated to EBA II. The continuation of clay plastered platform that was exposed last season and regarded as a sacred area was found. It was found out that the platform that was thought to be in circular plan, in fact is in oval shape and it has a mouth facing to the east. Ceramics (descending order): EBA III: It is a well known phase with its cemetery and the material came out of the level II of the Hill III. The pottery industry is dominated by forms; all handmade; like bowl; dish; jar or two handled vessels for fruits and miniature cups. The paste is usually tempered with grit and plant; rarely with shell. The thin pasted vessels were washed in gray; black and brown and burnished elaborately. They are rarely washed in red. Some vessels were decorated with incision; excision and groove following the wash. Sometimes; the decoration was applied after the removal of the wash. Notch and jagged decorations were also applied. Ö. Bilgi reports that rims of some of the vessels were excised; jagged or wavy [Bilgi 1999:pic.17-18; Bilgi 1999c:172-173]. They are all well-fired. EBA II: The excavations carried out on hill III and I revealed that the pottery industry recovered from the building levels of EBA II has no distinctive characteristics than phase III. The industry of this period was presented in detail by Ö. Bilgi. One of the vessels recovered from the building level 11 of the Hill III have a double V sign on its body. It is claimed to be a schematized depiction of the bull's horn [Bilgi 1999e:490]. A baked clay straining vessel which was interesting by its form and decorations found while the oven in trench M at the northern slope of Hill I was cleaning [Bilgi 2006a:19]. A terra cotta necked jar; and a sieve were found at EBA I phase I; a terra cotta miniature vessel; necked jar; twin vessel; animal figurine were found at phase II; swindl-horl was found at phase III; necked jar; and terra cotta snake head at EBA II; phase 6; a necked jar and an object with four feet were found at phase 4 during the excavations that took place in 2005 [Bilgi 2007.118-119]. In 2009, pieces of cups and pottery, spindle whorls made of baked earth ware and bone, loom weights, bone piercers, a bronze earring, pumice sanding tools, a brush head made of baked earth ware and grinding stones are captured in the second architectural layer of Trench M. A piece of baked earth ware pot and pieces of cups, bone spindle whorls, baked earth ware loom weights, bone piercers, needles for sewing, needles as ornaments, a bronze jar, a bead, two blades, sling bullets, and a baked earth ware brush head are captured in the third architectural layer. A simple miniature bowl, spindle whorls made of baked earth ware and bone, loom weights, a piece of baked earth ware with a human figure relief, piercers, and a disc-shaped stone pendantive are captured in the fourth architectural layer [Bilgi 2011: 440-441]. Clay: Objects like loomweights; loom combs; brush handle; sling; clay lumps; wheel; plug were recovered from the building levels of both EBA II and III. A natural-like schematized idol with flat face recovered from the building level 16 of EBA II of the hill III represents the samples of late period for this type [Bilgi 2000:pic.11]. The EBA III clay finds include fragments of human figurines; loomweights; spindle whorls; beads and seal. Counter weights; counter combs; spindl whorls; closures; pestle were found in three layers of EBA I; and EBA II; phases 6; 5; 4 [Bilgi 2007.118-119]. In 2006 finds were unearthed during the excavations on the north hill of the Hill I that consisted of the building layers 1 and 3; in addition to the earthenware such as glasses; bowls; spindle whorls; loom weights [Bilgi 2008:274]. During the 2011 campaign, 9 baked clay spindle whorls, 9 loom weights, a bull head figure, a flat reel, circular shaped object with string-hole were recovered inside of the fill numbered b.4200. A bowl, a miniature vessel, 12 spindle whorls, 18 loom weights were found inside of the fill numbered B.4201. Inside of the piled up soil numbered B.4202 of Level 1, 3 baked clay spindle whorls and 14 loom weights were recovered. Chipped Stone: The raw material of the EBA settlements was obsidian and flint. Tools like scraper; adze; saw were chipped. The industry is comparable with the contemporary settlements [Bilgi 1999c:173]. Ground Stone: Both phases yielded burnished flat axe; grinding stone and emery. A distinctive find is a spearhead of EBA II [Bilgi 1991:pic.3]. A casting moulding was found. Several grindstones; emery stone; glazing tool were found during the excavations that took place in 2005 (Bilgi 2007.118-119). In 2006 the excavations revealed jewelry possibly made of copper-arsenic alloys; tools and weapons [Bilgi 2008:275]. During the 2011 campaign, a flint flake, a cutting tool were found in the fill numbered b.4200. 3 flint cutting tools were recovered from the fill of b.4201. In the piled up soil numbered B.4202 of Level 1i 16 flint cutting tools, 3 scrapers, 1 arrowhead, 3 obsidian cutting tools and 1 obsidian arrowhead were found. 13 flint and 6 obsidian cutting tools were also found in the piled up soil numbered B.4204. Bone/Antler: Piercing tools in deer bone; pestle; mallet; shaft holed axe; shaft holed hammer; handle; spindle whorl in bone; perforator; fishhook; pastry saw; spatula and spoon were found. Various bone piercing tools were found in the phases 6; 5; and 4 of EBA II; as well as the three phases of EBA I; during the excavations in 2005. Also an axe made of horn was found inside the furnace revealed in the EBA I phase I [Bilgi 2007:118-119]. During the 2011 studies, 3 bone drills, 1 idol, 1horn handle, 1 hammer were found in the fill numbered b.4200. In the fill numbered b.4201, a bone spindle whorl was recovered and 2 bone drills and 1 horn drills were found in the piled up soil numbered B.4202 of Level 1. Metal: The settlement of EBA III on the hill III yielded the identical of the metallic grave goods mentioned hereinbelow. Like grave finds; they are in arsenical bronze. Finds like flat axes [Bilgi 1999b:pic.30]; daggers [Bilgi 1999b:pic.31-32] and harpoon heads providing evidence for the metallurgical technology of this period were recovered. Identical finds were reported for EBA II. It is certain that the casting was performed inside the village. The finds dating to EBA III include bronze harpoon heads; straight razor; blade; tongs; spearheads; khanjar; flat axes and two copper ingots. An arsenic-copper piercing tool was founs at EBA phase 2; an arsenic copper ring at phase 3; an arsenic copper spear head at EBA II; phase 6; an arsenic copper spear head and a piece of string at phase 5; and an arsenic copper dagger were found during the excavations in 2005 [Bilgi 2007:118-119]. During the 2011 studies 4 bronze sewing needles and a pin were found in the fills of b.4200 and b.4201. A fibula was recovered from the piled up soil numbered B.4202 of Level 1. Human Remains: Intramural Graves: Although rare; some intramural burials of the Ikiztepe inhabitants were found. A child's skeleton was found under a wreckage in the building level 1 of the hill III. A burial of EBA I was laid down on his/her back in the hill I in the east-west direction accompanied with a ring and an earring [Bilgi 1991:242]. The 1998-99 excavation revealed; once again; the presence of intramural graves in the hill III. The building levels 10; 11; 12 and 16 of the hill III dated from the EBA II yielded 5 graves. The dead were interred on their back into simple pit burials; heads oriented toward the west or the southwest. In one of the graves; a boarded floor is observed under the burial. The burial on the building level 11 is a female with a bronze anklet accompanied with a bowl and a silver ring [Bilgi 2000:pic.9]. The burial interred in hocker position distinctive than the others was found in the building level 17. Three simple soil graves are located in 2009 in Trench M. One of these graves is destructed and all are identified as from the Phase 2 of the culture level defined as EBA II. A bronze flat axe, a sea spear head and a necklace made of 5 timber beads are captured beside the intact skeleton which is resting in East-West direction with the head looking West. In the second -destructed- grave a spear head, a dagger and a sea spear head made of bronze are found. It is observed that the third grave is located in the West of the trench and in the third architecture layer of Culture Level EBA I. No goods are present in the grave; the skeleton is resting in North-South direction with the head looking South and the grave is from the first phase of EBA II Culture Level [Bilgi 2011: 441]. Extramural Cemetery: The EBA III people resided in the hill III preferred to use the hill I which is 20 m high as a cemetery. The number of these graves destroying the buildings of EBA II is; for now; 599. Since some of them housed more than one burial; a total of 670 skeletons were found [Bilgi 1988:170]. During the 2001 season 16 simple pit burials were found. The cemetery area is ca. 1400 squaremeters. They were randomly buried without any markings. They are all simple pit burials. When a new grave was opened; if an old grave was encountered; the old skeletons were gathered into one side leaving the grave goods as they were and the new dead was buried into the same pit. This also indicates that the graves were not marked. There is no specific orientation of the burials. The pits are not very deep. No traces of wooden coffin or stone walls are observed. The dead were buried as laid down in their clothings; face orienting the sky; arms and hands on both sides of the body and legs side by side. A few burials were interred in semi-hocker position as slightly contracted. It is difficult to propose that they had a distinct tradition. Most probably they died in contracted position; and therefore they had to be interred like this. The analysis of the skeletons exposes that all the dead of any age and any gender were buried in the same position. The skeletons of the persons over 60 years old indicate that such a community with too many weapons might have lived peacefully in good health. Grave Goods: The richness of finds recovered from the graves may indicate that the EBA III people of Ikiztepe believed in life after death or reincarnation. They were not produced as grave goods only. Probably they were the belongings of the dead. Some graves do not house any goods. The last excavator; Ö. Bilgi gathers the grave goods in four groups depending on their material: Terra Cotta Goods: Intact vessels probably employed for food and drinks; female goddess figurines; small bells (toys?) and plenty of spindle whorls were found. Bone Goods: Hook; knife case; string of necklace (beads) were recovered. Stone Goods: Pendants looking like number "8" were left into the male's graves while the beads of agate; crystal and frit were left into the graves of both male and female. Metal Goods: It is clear that Ikiztepe people were master in this material. Gold; silver and lead were only employed for earrings. They were rather recovered from the graves of the female [Bilgi 1988:171]. The arsenical bronze pieces vary depending on the gender. The earring; hair spiral; ring; amulet; hair pin; pin; mat knitting needle; perforated needle; bronze framed knobs were buried with females while the male burials were accompanied with various types of spearheads; daggers; arrow heads; thin and long flat axes; dual and quadruplet spiral emblems looking like two mutual cypress cones; symbols depicting stylized horns [Bilgi 1983:51]; shaver; spiral butt. It is amazing to find leaf; strangled; hatchet and disc shaped daggers and spearheads in some female graves. Awl; perforator and chisel were found near both females and males. The heft of the hob- and hammer-headed daggers are decorated with excisions much same as the decorations applied on wood [Bilgi 1987:150]. The spiral bronze ties are supposed to be attached on the batons. The quadruplet spiral plates are in the hands of the dead or next to him. Both these graves and ones housing spearheads with religious figures in relief should belong to the ruler class. The graves with such finds have no distinctive construction techniques than the others. Findspots are also varied. No specific area was allocated for them. One of the amazing features of the Ikiztepe graves are that the traces proving that 13 of the 580 skeletons underwent a brain surgery [Mellink 1985a:551]. The trepanation procedure applied on two of these skeletons was published by U.W. Backhofen. One of them is an adult and the other is a teenager. It was identified that they lived 5 years more after the surgery. People resided at Ikiztepe carry the characteristics of the Mediterranean race. The average age is 25-26 years. Among them; there is a female lived until she was 70 years old. During 2004 excavations on Hill I a 3-6 months old infant burial was uncovered at EBA III cementery. There was no grave goods near this earth grave. Besides this one an other grave belonging to an adult found in trench D. Depending on the white remains of wood the burial was considered as it was placed in a wooden casket [Bilgi 2006b:29].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The first settlements of Ikiztepe were established on a natural alluvial conveyed by the river; where the Kizilirmak River spills to the Black Sea. Both the easy accessibility to the resources like carrying the logs on the slopes alongside the river and the rich fishing resources in the river's mouth as well as the arable fields alongside the river and on shore plain created a very suitable site to settle. The extent of the fishing can be easily understood by the presence of plenty of fishhooks and harpoons. Although uncertain; it is suggested that it housed a small port taking part in the sea trade reaching to the Black Sea from the Aegean through the Marmara Sea. The enlargement of this alluvial plain toward the sea annihilated the good conditions; and the site lost its significance from the second millennium BC. For metallic objects; either a barter trade was in effect with the mine workers in the mountains or the casting was performed in the village by the ingots brought from the mountains. Ö. Bilgi believes that the metal production was performed inside the village. He visited the rich copper beds in the Bakirçay Valley; 10 km north of Merzifon District during the researches on the ancient mining in the Black Sea region. Arsenical beds are located [Özbal et al.2001:29] east of Duragan District in the valley of Peynirçayi; 15 km north of Merzifon; immediate west of Bakirçay [Bilgi 2001a:319]. It can be suggested that mine workers of Ikiztepe ran these beds. Enourmous number of metal weapons; which some of them relates to female graves; suggested that Ikiztepe society may a warrior society. Having plenty of metallic weapons; even in the female graves of EBA III people exposes that they were a warrior society. A lot of idols recovered indicate that they believed in the Mother Goddess and Fertility Goddess. The ruling class lived just like the public; and didn't have class privileges like the principals of Central Anatolia. There are two principle hypothesis on the roots of the people of Ikiztepe. The first of these claim that the Ikiztepe people were the local people from Anatolia (Bilgi 2001); the other one claims that the Ikiztepe people came into the Mid Black Sea Region through migrations (Wittver-Backofen 1985). As a result of the grouping analysis that depended on 6 metric characteristics of the skull; the people of Ikiztepe were grouped along with the communities of the Anatolian Bronze Age and were more closely categorised with the people from Hisarlık and Hanaytepe of the Troia Group. When the Anatolian Bronze Age communities which also contain the people of Ikiztepe are compared against the communities near Anatolia (Levant; Mesopotamia; Iran; Caucasia and Middle Asia) based on grouping analysis; It was found that the people of Ikiztepe were bilogically not grouped with the communities in Caucasia and the east; but Syrie (Ras Shamra) and some Mesopotamian communities. This result also was proved with the archaeological finds [Eroglu-Erdal 2006:41-50]. The metal material found during the excavation in 2006; showed that developed metallurgies started at an earlier period in Ikiztepe; namely in the Early EBA [Bilgi 2008:275]. The anaysis performed for the identification of the organic remain inside the pottery showed through the lump on three of the pots that these ceramic pots were heated. These three perforated ceramic objects are particularly important. As hypothized this kind of perforated vessels could be used for the production of dairies; and particularly as churn in the production of butter. The results of the chemical analysis also support the thesis that these vessels were used for the production of the dairies [Türkekul Bıyık; A. - H. Özbal 2008. 253; 256]. In 2008 excavations it was found that the cemetery area spread in south direction, and based on their presence deeper underground these belong to EBA II, unlike the weapons found during earlier excavations and dated to EBA III the weapons that were unearthed belong to an earlier period, based on yielded specimens men were carrying similar jewelry as women did, and based on golden earrings it was conceived that Ikiztepe inhabitants were involved in trade relations with other people in the region in order to obtain golden as raw material or even as handicrafts [Bilgi 2010:372].


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