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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Araptepe |
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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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40 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Izmir |
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District:
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Aliaga |
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Village:
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Helvaci |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Ceramic |
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| Location: It lies north of the motorway running to Eski Foca; 13 km northwest of Menemen district; north of Izmir province. |
| Geography and Environment: The site lies in the Helvaci Plain and west of Helvaci village. It is in a location closer to the mountains and the slopes of the settlement are covered with olive trees. It is about 2 km west of the settlement of Helvaci Höyücek and 500-600 m north of Bekirler. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered by a team under the direction of Muzaffer Senyürek during a regional survey of the Höyücek excavations in 1944. The site was investigated again in 2001 by C. Lichter during the surveys related to the Panaztepe excavations. an area of more than 8 hectares was surveyed around the hill and an intensive research was conducted in a total of 35 grids. The finds are more abundant on the northeastern slope. |
| Stratigraphy: According to the surface finds; it is suggested that the settlement was inhabited in the Neolithic and EBA. Besides the intensive prehistorical material; Roman pottery sherds were also encountered. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: The surface color of the Neolithic Age ceramics varies from reddish brown to red and in some cases they are burnished. They are sand and grit tempered. Mica is very rare. Also organic tempered examples were encountered. The characteristic forms are large hole-mouth pots which demonstrate rims tickened on the interior; bowls with a slight S-curvature and simple open vessels. Besides the flat bases; bell shaped bases are also avaliable. The characteristic handle form is the vertically pierced tubular lug. Small vertically pierced knobs exist as well. Apart from three pieces; one painted in white and two others with impresso decoration; the pottery is undecorated. Chipped Stone: The chipped stone tools collected are made of various raw materials. Besides; obsidian tools were also collected. Lichter suggests that a few pieces of the obsidian may have originated in Melos. Pieces from the Giali obsidian were also collected. There is not detailed information about the tools. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The Araptepe material is very similar to the materials observed in the other Late Neolithic settlements of Southwestern Anatolia Lake Region dating to the last quarter of 7th millennium BC; such as Hacilar; Höyücek; Kuruçay; and Bademagaci. The characteristics of these settlements in Western Anatolia can be understood better after the detailed publication of the Ulucak Höyük excavations. |
