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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Karahisar Höyügü / Tavas |
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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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870 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Denizli |
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District:
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Tavas |
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Village:
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Karahisar |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA II EBA III |
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| Location: It lies south of the Karahisar Town; 10 km northwest of the Tavas District; south of the Denizli Province. |
| Geography and Environment: It is a small mound where the residents of Karahisar reported it to be flattened 20-30 years ago. It was severely destroyed due to both flattening and heavy cultivation for long years. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: A small salvage excavation was carried out in 1985 by the collaboration of the museums of Denizli and Aphrodisias. Firstly; the area was divided into plots of 5x5 m. Considering the deposit being thicker on the western part of the mound; 12 squares of 5x5 m were excavated. The 1985 excavation could have been conducted on only 1/7 of the mound. It is reported to measure 18800 squaremeters including the fields around. |
| Stratigraphy: All trenches reached the virgin soil at ca. 130 cm depth. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Trenches yielded paving made of broken stones or mud bricks of 75x100 cm. The trenchs B 13 and A 12 revealed fragments of a stone foundation extending in the north-south direction at ca.100 m depth. It is seen that rough stoned foundation stands on the virgin soil. Pottery: Plenty of handmade black-coloured sherds with grit and mica tempered paste was recovered. Ground Stone: Plenty of marble idols were found in different sizes. They have round-disc heads; largely circular and rarely four-cornered bodies. They are introduced by photographs in the publication of the excavations; however it is not indicated if they came from the graves. Human Remains: An intramural cemetery consisting of both pithos and simple graves was found. Handmade pithoi have wide mouths and small flat bottoms. Small lugs were attached to their body; probably; for easy carrying. Following the digging and opening of a pit; they were laid down to one side; facing the east. The body prepared to be buried in hocker position was interred into the pithos accompanied with grave goods left to his/her side usually including one or two pieces of spouted pitchers; mug and bronze bracelet. Presence of blades and cores in obsidian and flint; serpentine chisel and polishing tools in the graves is interesting. Second type of burials is simple earth graves built on small platforms. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is one of the demolished mounds in Anatolia due to several reasons. Excavation lasted for one year didn't provide detailed information particularly about its architecture. Although nothing was reported about the dating; it can be interpreted dating back to EBA II-III based on the schematic features of disc-headed idols in marble. |
