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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Alisar 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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1010 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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Alisar |
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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 lies about 2;5 km north of the Alisar Village; south of the Sorgun District; southeast of the Yozgat Province. |
| Geography and Environment: The mound is located on a big plain irrigated by the Konak Suyu. It is believed that the Konak Suyu used to flow near the mound. Alisar is the biggest settlement in Central Anatolia. The main settlement of Alisar is reported to measure ca. 520x350 m in dimensions in accordance with the distribution of sherds. A conic height rises in the middle of the terrace up to 30 m high measuring 245x145 m in dimensions. The mound was named after the nearest village; Alisar. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was excavated for six seasons between 1927-36 by H.H. von der Osten of Oriental Sciences Institute; University of Chicago by the collaboration of E.F. Schmidt. The mound was divided into 10x10 m squares; and the trenches were dug according to this division. The finds were recorded very carefully. The team became the centre of a heavy criticism following the lack of significant finds during the excavations. Although it was carefully and scientifically excavated compared to some other excavations carried out in the same period; the layers were mixed. Probably the displacement of the settlements; in addition to the size of the mound; played an important role in this result. It is a multi-cored mound. The first cultural deposit dating from the Late Chalcolithic Age/Early Bronze Age is followed by the third layer dated from the EBA III. The layer of the second millennium BC which was supposed to be enumerated later was named as layer II. The excavations were restarted from 1992. The recent excavations would; surely; bring the lower levels out to take their place in the Anatolian archaeology as well as bringing the settlement to a key position in the vicinity. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The stratigraphy of the site is presented differently by the scholars. Starting from the uppermost levels of the mound; the existence of Seljukian; Byzantine; Roman; Hellenistic; Phrygian; Hittite Empire Period; Early Hittite Period; EBA; and Chalcolithic Age remains have been observed. According to Huot; the stratigraphy of the settlement of the Early Hittite Period is such as [Huot 1982:72]: Alisar 0 (19M-15M) and Alisar Ia (14M-12M): Late Chalcolithic Age-EBA I Alisar Ib (11M-7M; 14T-13T):EBA II-III A Alisar III (6M-5M; 12 T): EBA III B-Transition Period |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The Chalcolithic Age levels of Alisar were found at the area; southwest of inner castle in 1929 in the 10x10 trial trench. Virgin soil was reached at the depth of 30.5 m. The entire stratigraphy of Alisar was obtained from this trench. The first village is assumed to be found on the elevation; beside the swamp. A prominent architecture could not be observed; because the trench was too small. Pieces of pise and mud-brick were recovered. The Chalcolithic Age level is recorded to be 7 m thick; starting from the depth of 23 m to the virgin soil. The existence of dominant fire and ash pits suggest an intense settlement. Pottery: Sherds of sand and chaff-tempered; coarse; usually black and dark slipped; very well burnished ware were recovered. A little amount of sherds of red ware are also observed. The surface was burnished with a very smooth stone or bone. There are deeply incised zigzag and rhombus decorations on some sherds. Flaring rims; pear-shaped vessels; and fruit-stands; resembling the Chalcolithic Age of Central Anatolia; are the dominant forms. Clay: Small woman figurines with projecting arms were recovered at the Late Chalcolithic Age levels of Alisar. In addition; many idol heads with round faces and emphasized noses were found. There are small holes; located close to each other; at both sides of the heads. The existence of seals with geometric decorations suggest commercial relations in the community. Animal figurines with horns and a paint decorated figurine [von der Osten 1937:fig.86] is another group of clay finds. Many loom weights were recovered. Chipped Stone: Blades are dominant in the chipped stone industry in which chalcedon; flintstone; and obsidian were used as raw material. Sickles; scrapers are common. A winged arrowhead made of obsidian was recovered. Ground Stone: The abundant sap delikli balta*; hammer; and mortar recovered from the Chalcolithic Age levels of Alisar hint the existence of an advanced technology [von der Osten 1937:fig.90]. Metal: Copper finds are very few. A tip and a pin are among the metal finds. The existence of silver and lead production at this period is prooved with a silver earring and a leaden seal. Human Remains: The existence of cist graves made of wood and mud-brick at Alisar show that the people could use any material for building graves. In addition; two cist graves were found at the 13th level [Özgüç 1948b:32]. Flexed burials were observed in inhumations and cist graves. Some of them contain grave goods. Other: Pieces of wood that became charcoal are one of the interesting finds of Alisar. An object with holes at both sides is among these pieces; which belong to the objects made by cutting and engraving. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The lowest levels of Alisar contain important finds; which show the relations between Central Anatolia and Northern Anatolia. The existence of sherds of excised and incised decorated ware; which is also found in Yüksek Kilise and Büyük Güllücek; indicates that this type of ware was widely spread. |
