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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Karayavsan |
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Type:
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Mound |
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Altitude:
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1005 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Ankara |
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District:
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Polatli |
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Village:
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Karayavsan |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: It lies next to the village it was named after; 20 km east of the Polatli District; southwest of the Ankara Province. It is situated north of the motorway running from Polatli to Haymana. |
| Geography and Environment: It is a medium sized mound; 13 m high. There is a low terrace on the eastern side. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was excavated in 1965 under R. Temizer by means of two trenches; one on the top hill and the other on the eastern slope. |
| Stratigraphy: Top trench yielded remains belonging to the last phase of EBA whereas terrace trench belonging to the earlier phase of the same age. It is an EBA mound having a cultural deposit of almost 12 m thick. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Four-cornered structures with mud-brick walls and stone foundations were recovered. Walls were coated with white plaster. They have inside walls. Exposure of door milestones indicates the presence of doors. A big stone kiln was found in one of the rooms. Storage pits with a size of 150-200 cm are located in open areas. Besides hearths; millstones recovered inside the houses indicate the presence of heavy cultivation. Pottery: EBA levels yielded usually handmade; red surface colored and burnished ware. Forms of thick walled bowls; small storage jars; big jugs and small cups with flat bottom and cylindrical bodies are common. D.H. French indicates the presence of wares belonging to EBA II-III of the Western Anatolia region and EBA II of the Central Anatolia region. The collected finds from Karayavsan Höyük excavation has been studied in Anatolian Civilizations Museum by Bertram-Bertram in 2010. Being red burnished and red slipped are the characteristics of these vessels. The most common types are; large cups with lug and spouted pitchers. Red paint was applied as lines on some of the vessels [Bertram-Bertram 2012:54]. Clay: Terracotta figurines and spindle whorls were recovered. Both of the clay idols recovered are of big eyed idols widely seen in Central Anatolia; one of them having a waist shaped narrower as to form hips and short arms while the other with a cross-like decoration in front. Chipped Stone: A few obsidian blades recovered from this significant settlement of the Ankara region is claimed to be imported from the south [Yakar 1985a:197]. There is also a piece of stone axe among the finds [Bertram-Bertram 2012:54]. Metal: Pins with knobbed head, 2 bronze chisels and a few metal finds have been found [Bertram-Bertram 2012:54]. Human Remains: Among the buildings; human skeletons leant on different sides were uncovered. Two golden items cited as earplugs in the archaeological text and copper/bronze bracelet were left as grave goods in one of the cist graves uncovered [Mellink 1966:148]. Earplugs were found next to the skull. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Karayavsan is one of those sites which were not published in detail despite of its significance. It is difficult to achieve a detailed dating of the layers. Likes of earplugs were found at the Kocumbeli settlement. Probably it can be evaluated under the Ahlatlibel; Kocumbeli and Etiyokusu cultures. |
