©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

KM 97 Domuztepe

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KM 97 Domuztepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 550 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Kahramanmaras
District:
 Pazarcik
Village:
 Emiroglu
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Early Middle Late

     

Location: The mound lies in Emiroglu Village; southwest of Narli Sub-district; 32 km south-southeast of the centrum of Kahramanmaras. It is labeled KM 97 by Carter (KM being the abbreviation of Kahramanmaras).
Geography and Environment: The mound located on the east bank of Aksu River; in Maras Plain Ñan alluvial formation by the river springing out from Kürt MountainsÑ and is surrounded by rich fields convenient for agriculture and animal husbandry. It lies on the natural mountain-pass from north to southeast; in Maras Plain. Therefore it is in an area extremely convenient for settling. The ovoid mound is 12 m higher than the plain level and covers an area of 18 hectares. A series of cores was taken both on and off the site in 2004 and suggests that the area west of the site was a marsh or lake in prehistory [cat.une.edu.au/page/domuztepe 25.7.2006; 10:30].
History:
Research and Excavation: It is discovered during the Kahramanmaras Archaeological Survey by E. Carter in 1993 [Carter 1995:334]. The archaeological excavations in Domuztepe Mound were carried out by foreign teams in 1995-2012. In 2008, the excavation were taken over by Stuart Campbell. The last project director Stuart Campbell handed on the project to Halil Tekin from Hacettepe University in 2013 and the 2013-2014 excavations were conducted under the directorship of Kahramanmaras Museum with a team from Hacettepe University.
Stratigraphy: The recent finds dating back to the horizon between Roman and Islamic periods are collected from the surface; concentrating in an area one-third of the whole surface. The broadest settlement is Halafian and also constitutes the main settlement of the site. Besides abundant Early Halafian and Samarra sherds; sherds interrelated with Ubaid Period indicate that the site was still inhabited after the Halaf Period; although it was abandoned at the end of the 5th Millennium BC.
Small Finds: Architecture: Excavations are being conducted in three main areas at the site. Trench I; on the south; yields two phases of the Post-Halafian settlement. Both phases are represented by narrow; rectangular structures with stone-foundations; forming specific complexes. The walls are about 1.20 m thick; although the structures are not very big. In an area of different function; southeast of the previous one; two hearth floors and an area with plastered floor are recovered. In Trench II; which gives the stratigraphy of the mound; eight levels were found. Architecture consists of rectangular and round planned structures and two traditional Halafian tholoi. In the third area; Trench III; northwest of the mound; abundant cattle bones have led to the thought that the structure in this area was probably used as a butchery [Campbell-Healey 1996:3; Campbell 1997:9]. In 2004 work mainly concentrated on clarifying areas within Operation I; where a process of changing uses (domestic architecture; funerary ritual; open air and then once more buildings) was more clearly defined. The red terrace was probably up to 70 m long and was constructed as a low mound about 4 m across and bounded on north and south by rows of stones. It was renewed at least twice and in the second phase a long ditch ran along the terrace. This contained numerous cultural remains; including sherds from a jar with scene showing two horizontal figures without heads; a tree or bush and many standing birds. Interpretation of this scene inevitably draws on the remains from the Death Pit. To the south of the ditch a series of ovens was built over the former low mound. The ash deposits over the Death Pit were further traced and later ritual deposits identified [cat.une.edu.au/page/domuztepe 25.7.2006; 10:30]. The researches that took place in 2005 were performed in the two areas in the north; called "Ölüm Çukuru"; and "Kizil Teras" where it is known to have the earliest activity. A 45 m long part of 75 m long Kizil Teras was excavated [Campbell-Carter 2007. 270]. We suspect that this 'Red Terrace' marks an important boundary within the site and it may be no accident that the 'Death Pit'; the large scale funerary context excavated in earlier years; was situated on the edge of this boundary. The main focus in 2005 was on completing the excavation of an east-west 'ditch' that ran through the red soil of the terrace. This was completed and it was confirmed that this was also not a single phase of activity but; like the terrace itself; was the product of distinct and repeated actions [Campbell-Carter 2007:271]. The second area of work in 2005 was in the southwest of the trenches.There had indeed been burnt structures. As the deposits are close to the surface of the site; traces of any ashy deposits had largely been lost through soil formation. Instead the direct evidence of burning was confined to the orange fired clay debris of the collapsed roofing which had; in places; at least; trapped significant quantities of in situ material [Campbell-Carter 2007:273]. The most interesting aspect was confirmation of much more ephemeral architectural elements than have been demonstrated at the site before.This included posts set in shallow postholes and; because of the burnt roofing; there was even one example of the impression of the top of teh post where it met the roof. There was also some evidence that matting screens may have been used to make much more flimsy and temporary partitions than we had been able to show before [Campbell-Carter 2007:273]. Pottery: The Halafian sherds collected from the surface are hand-made; very smooth-surfaced; and hard-fired. Most of these are of painted ware and the paint displays a wide range of colors like brown; black; orange; red-brown etc. The forms are typical of Halaf Pottery assemblages [Carter 1996:293-294]. The Post-Halafian pottery is similar to Halaf Pottery technically and yet display Ubaid characteristics. Besides; other recovered sherds of burnished pottery and coarse; incised ware are produced in a different tradition. Textile motifs; relief-decorations; and paint-decorations of various colors and techniques; unique for Domuztepe are of interest [Campbell-Healey 1996:3; Campbell 1997]. During the researches that were performed in 2005 it was found that the 'ditch' was filled with cultural debris; in particular ceramics and animal bones. The density of finds was no surprise in itself - the smaller of 'ditch' previously excavated produced; for examle; the jar decorated with possible decapitated bodies. On several sherds from the body of a jar; women are shown apparently dancing with linked hands. The women stand below rosettes and wear long skirts; holding hands with arms bent upwards at the elbows and seeming to move to the right around the pot. They have stylized heads and long hair - or perhaps even animal masks with horns and long streamers. Another find of note from the 'ditch' is a small clay head broken from a male figurine. The head has a large nose with poorly defined lips and mouth. A single line indicates a cap and the beard is subtly rendered by small punctate incisions. The eye sockets show traces of dark deposits; perhaps suggesting that they were originally inlaid [Campbell-Carter 2007:272]. The abundance of the material from the ditch contained later Halaf material as well; there is a large component of painted material that seems to date from the Early Halaf. Especially characteristic are the S-profile bowls with horizontal cross-hatching on the exterior; a style extremely well known from Tell Sabi Abyad in the Balikh Valley in northern Syria [Campbell-Carter 2007:272]. Chipped Stone: Flintstone and obsidian are used at the site; for this industry. Obsidian is used for producing beads; tips; vessels; and plaques besides arrowheads; scrapers; and cutting tools. Three miniature axe-heads made on flakes are out of three different colored obsidians; brown; green; and black. There are other miniature axe-heads; different in technique from the previous ones; also made out of obsidians of various volcanic resources. Blade industry is dominant in Domuztepe; and yet the incipient examples are lacking. Flakes; on the other hand; are represented with examples of all phases of developement. The retouched tools are small blades; serrated blades; scrapers; and burins. In 1997; a knapping platform; that was left as it was after being flaked; was recovered. This 850 piece assemblage has made it possible to find three different flint cores and green obsidian pieces in situ [Campbell-Healey 1996:4; Healey 1997:10]. The 2005 researches revealed numerous vessels smashed underneath the collapsed roofing; including a mass of containers that seem to have been stored in an alcove. In the debris in the alcove; also found several pieces of ground stone; lithics and what may have been a string of beads. Less expectedly; at the oppposite side of the burnt area we may also have found evidence for obsidian bead manufacture with a group of chipped obsidian 'bead blanks' [Campbell-Carter 2007:273]. Ground Stone: Very fine worked stone vessels; three of which are spouted are recovered in the upper levels. An obsidian vessel of extraordinarily high quality is found in the 2nd level and abundant Halafian seals are found both in this level and on the surface. Miniature hand-axes out of serpantine constitute the other finds. The miniature axe-heads out of obsidian were shaped by grinding after being flaked [Campbell-Healey 1996:3; Healey 1997:10]. Human Remains: The small pit under the tholos in Trench I; in the southern section of the mound has yielded interesting data about the burial customs of Domuztepe. First; stones are laid in the pit and then 6-9 skulls; which were damaged before being buried; are situated. Long bones lie in the northern corner of the pit. It is interesting that these are found together with burnt mudbrick pieces and ash; although the pit; itself shows no trace of fire [Campbell-Healey 1996:3]. During 2002 excavations some smaller pits with a few bones of a neonate and a complex secondary interments were uncovered around the area called "Death Pit". The analyzes on the human skeletal remains shows that the skulls have been severed from the body as cut marks on the vertebra show. In most cases a part of the skull was intentionally removed; this may well have been to extract the brain [Carter 2002].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The 6th and 5th Millennium BC settlement of Domuztepe is an important Halafian settlement of the region because of both the environment and the finds. The fact that Halaf techniques and Ubaid characteristics are observed in the pottery of the Post-Halaf Phase of the mound raises the question either this phenomenon points out to an overall Halaf-Ubaid Transition Period or to solely a local development. The continiuing excavations will hopefully clarify this issue [Campbell-Healey 1996:3]. Although Halaf chronology remains poorly defined; it seems unlikely that this type of ceramic can date much after 5800 BC and it might be a litle earlier. One of the final phases of the terrace has produced an uncalibrated radiocarbon date of 4530+- 40 BC which is unlikely to represent a calendar date earlier than c.5500 BC. This suggests that the repeated processes through which both the terrace and the ditch built up were maintained over a very substantial period; perhaps at minimum 300 years [Campbell-Carter 2007:272]. All of materials which were found in the southwest of the trenches; pre-dates the Death Pit and post-dates most of the terrace formation [Campbell-Carter 2007:273]. All the finds including fauna and flora that were unearthed at Kizil Teras and the ditch during the researches in 2006 were analized. The radiocarbon date of this layer 5.800 BC; and the ceramics have the similar qualities of Sabi Abyad 1-3. As a result of the studies that were performed to gather together the fragments of ceramic that were found at different locations inside the ditch since 2004; many vessels with extraordinary ornamentations were found. Some fragments described structures; one of the best preserved examples bear the scene where stork-like birds stand on top of trees and roofs; and there are cubes between the buildings. The buildings were described from façade and profile; and contained a straw mat with checkered design ; vaulted roofs with erected walls of shields used as a topcover. The buildings look as if they were two storey buildings and they are very similar to the southeastern wooden houses. But; since the early period residential remains were not encountered it is not known whether the above mentioned descriptions were the typical houses or other types of buildings. Among other vessels the description of the dancing women holding hands and wearing tasseled skirts and animal masks is particularly important. These vessels may be compared to the examples known as "death cube" on which a tree; decapitated figures; birds and probably a head were described. When these are taken into consideration as one; it is the access gate into the world of icons in the 6th Millenium. The researches on the 3000 human bones inside the death pit was completed and 38 skelettons were identified. The fact that the flesh was removed from the human bodies as in animals suggests the possibility of cannibalism. Although the animal bones and remains of vegetation do not show traces of hunting; the utilisation of some plants suggest the presence of wattling. The economy was obviously dependant on agriculture and animal husbandry. The presence of many pigs is important. [http://cat.une.edu.au/page/domuztepe%20(kahramanmaras); 29.5.2008; 13:48]. The studies carried out since 1995 and the data obtained from the previous sounding studies prove that Domuztepe was a Mesopotamian settlement [Tekin 2017:186]. In Anatolia, it is not always easy to distinguish Late Neolithic from Early Chalcolithic. The settlements placed in Southeast Anatolia are generally regarded in the Mesopotamian chronological terminology: Halaf, Ubaid and Uruk. However, it should be stressed that these terms could not be applied the whole Anatolian region. The chronology used in TAY Project Database is based on the classical categorization. Therefore, this settlement is registered under Chalcolithic (For Chalcolithic period and terminology see http://tayproject.org/downloads/Kalkolitik_SH.pdf, 27.11.19, 13:06) Halil Tekin, the head of recent excavations, mentions that the settlement is a Late Neolithic settlement based on the terminological issue aforesaid. He states that Domuztepe interacted with Sakçagözü/Coba Höyük (which is about 20 km south), and Amuq settlements such as Tell el-Cüdeyde and Tell Kurdu in Hatay. He also reports that this region called Turkey East Mediterranean Region during Late Neolithic had a similar way of life since the beginning of the 7th milennium BC and the inhabitants of this region known each other directly or remotely. However, the settlements show clear regional differences [Tekin 2017:186].


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