©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Kuruçay

For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...

maps

For photographs please click on the photo...

Kuruçay
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 935 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Burdur
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Kuruçay
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Early Late

     

Location: This site lies west of the town of Burdur; by the fifteenth kilometer of the highway going west from Burdur towards Yesilova and Tefenni. It is 1.5 km southwest of Kuruçay Stream; which is very close to the highway.
Geography and Environment: The mound of Kuruçay lies on an undulating plain; on the stepped hills facing Lake Burdur. It lies in an area with deep river beds on its south; west and northern sides. The mound is 8 m high and has a 90x60 m base. It is 960 m above sea level and 110 m above Lake Burdur [Özsait 1979:102; Duru 1994a:1;83].
History:
Research and Excavation: The earliest research conducted on the mound in 1964; was a surface survey by J. Birmingham of the Hacilar excavation team. Later; the Burdur Museum and in 1972-74 and in 1975; M. Özsait of the University of Istanbul; Department of History revisited the site and collected surface materials. Excavations were conducted on the mound in 1978-88 under the direction of R. Duru of the University of Istanbul; Department of Protohistorical and Near Eastern Archaeology [Duru 1994a:1-2]. Excavation reports were published in detail [Duru 1996]. EBA finds of this settlement are introduced at Kuruçay Höyügü II; one of the two main publications [Duru 1996:65-103]. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: The site has been settled in Neolithic; Chalcolithic; and Early Bronze Ages. Of the 13 building levels; Levels 7-10 date to Early Chalcolithic and 3-6 to Late Chalcolithic: EBA II : (Level 1) EBA II-I : (Level 2) LCA : (Levels 3; 3A; 4-6; 6A) ECA : (Levels 7-10) LNA : (Level 11) ENA : (Levels 12-13) Virgin soil.
Small Finds: Architecture: Early Chalcolithic Age: The settlement at Level 10 has moved to the south after the demolishment of the LNA Level 11 [Harmankaya et al. 1997:Kuruçay]. The damaged remains reveal no proper plan. The preserved walls of one course of stone vary in thickness from 1 m to 60-70 cm and 20-25 cm. The rectangular structures are observed to have several phases. Level 9 follows a thick deposit of debris on Level 10. A 1.30 m wide street is recovered between two structures: one preserved fully; the other partially. The first is one-roomed; trapezoid in plan and contains in situ whole vessels and grinding stones on the three times renovated floor. While only the western corner of the 2nd structure is recovered; since the rest of it was damaged; no structure with full plan existed among the Level 8 structures with stone foundations and 80-95 cm thick walls. The remains belong to five structures positioned irregularly and their relations could not be comprehended. The last phase of the Early Chalcolithic Age settlement; Level 7 was rather well-preserved compared to other levels. The seven structures from this level seem to be built according to a plan; although they are positioned irregularly. There are open courts and streets between them. The remains of a thick wall south and southwest of the excavated area may belong to an enclosure wall; and yet the wall could not be traced at the west and the east; the western section of the settlement has probably eroded. The structures of this level are built in the same technique as the other levels. The single course foundations are built with gathered stones; sometimes with the addition of small stone pieces between them and the walls are put up with mud-brick after a levelling of the foundations with mud. A mud-brick wall segment on the 1 m thick or thicker foundations was preserved to a height of 1.20 m. The walls are plastered on the interior and the plaster is renovated for a few times. The similar houses are square-like rectangular of trapezoidal in plan; with one exception. The biggest is 8x7.5 m; the smallest is 5x4 m in area. All have two; three or four inner bastions. The exceptional house has two rooms with a passageway between the two [Duru 1981b:5-6; 1983a:32; 1983b:15-16; 1988a:66; 1988b:661-666; 1994:12-13]. Late Chalcolithic Age: The first level (6A) of this period is directly superimposed on the Early Chalcolithic settlement. This level survives rather long with renovations and changes; and has subphases of 6A1; Early 6A2; and Late 6A2. The structures are built on one-course stone foundations; that are put up directly on soil without a foundation ditch. The mudbrick walls are preserved to a height of 2 m in some examples. The burnt clay pieces with negative traces of reeds suggest that the roof was built in wattle-and-daub technique on a wooden frame. The floors are out of compact clay. The traces of two windows and a door with two wooden door-posts were recovered. The independent; rectangular; one-room structures are built close or adjacent to each other. A major change was observed after the Level 6A2; which already bears minor changes; when the open courts and streets were changed into closed structures. The general outlook of the Level 6A settlement is of an enclosed; defensive town. The to-and-fro positioned structures of the outer ring and towers (casemates) serve a defensive purpose. All main entrances of the settlement; on east; north; and northwest are interrelated with an inner court. Moreover; there are passages and streets; within the settlement; to reach the other courts. Three of the structures in the middle block of the settlement are interpreted to have different purposes depending on the in situ finds. The one interpreted as a temple (no:8) includes two central posts; a central mud-brick hearth with a stele; two hearths; one with a yalak*; at the back; a rectangular table out of mud; and a pit. The other two structures are thought to be mansions. A storehouse is built adjacent to the temple in Level 6A1; but its door is blocked by a wall short before deserting the temple. Ten houses are recovered from the first level (6c) after the destruction of 6A. The construction technique is same with the levels below; in this phase; while the plan displays differences. There are renovations in some structures such as the storehouse of the temple; some small changes in some of the plans; and of the newly built structures two at the north have totally different plans. Some of the old houses are still in use in Level 6b with small changes such as addition of hearths and replacement of doors; while there are one and two-room structures built anew. The architecture of this level is recovered ill-preserved. Level 6a yields a different settlement plan with still the same building techniques. A separate block is constructed in the centre of the settlement in this level and also some structures have gone through renovations and addition of new parts. The general features of Level 6 is the decrease in the number of structures and the replacement of the whole settlement to the west. Level 5 structures of the Late Chalcolithic Age are intense on the southeast of the mound. There is a single one-room structure in the centre with hearths and ovens and there are traces of dark red paint on the thick plaster of the walls. The remains of the Level 4 are severely damaged. The settlement is surrounded with a thick independent enclosure wall and the structures have thin walls. The houses from this settlement is very different from the previous Late Chalcolithic settlements of Kuruçay. Before the construction of the Level 3A structures; the slope of the mound is leveled quite seriously constituting the reason of destruction for the earlier structures.The construction technique is different in this level. Two adjacent structures are recovered. The remains of the Level 3 are a temple with three rooms; a storehouse; a house at the west; and another structure on the slope interpreted as a storehouse; all built up in different phases [Duru 1983c:85-87; 1984:68; 1985:6-8; 1986a:24-25; 1996a:5-23]. Pottery: The dominant ware of all phases of Early Chalcolithic Age period is the low mica tempered; gray; beige; brown pasted ware. Paint slip in red or shades of red and burnishing are the surface applications; some sherds are observed to be paint decorated. This ware has subgroups due to the variety in paste color; surface applications; and firing. The dominant forms are bowls and necked; spherical jars. Other forms are shallow bowls; plates; mugs; carinated bowls; beakers; and spouted jar-pitchers. The second kind of ware is the small and moderate grit-tempered; red and brown pasted; washed; paint decorated ware. The forms are everted rim bowls; shallow bowl-plates; deep carinated bowls. The third group is the small grit-tempered; gray pasted; nonslipped; nonburnished ware. The forms are spherical bowls; handled beakers; and mugs. The fourth ware is primitive in appearance; grit-tempered; buff or dirty light gray pasted; carelessly slipped and burnished with dominant forms of bowls and jars. The last two groups are not very significant for the Early Chalcolithic pottery of Kuruçay. And the smallest group of this period is the fifth group which is the nontempered; dark gray pasted; film slipped; highly burnished; well-fired ware. The forms of this group recovered very few; are bowls and spherical jars. The last group; the 6th; appears in the last phase of the period. It is sand; grit; and mica tempered; beige-light gray pasted; film slipped; burnished; and some examples are red paint decorated. The forms are knobbed handled deep bowls; mugs; and tapering neck jars. As a concluding remark; the continuity of Neolithic traditions is observed in the Early Chalcolithic pottery of Kuruçay. What is new is the 6th group with foreign traditions appearing at the last building level of the period; in this phase; the fantastic figures of decoration totally disappears [Duru 1987a:76; 1988a:66; 1994:19-60]. Late Chalcolithic Age: There are no significant differences between the Levels 6A and 4 in the Late Chalcolithic Kuruçay pottery. The differences emerge in Level 3; and therefore the pottery tradition is studied in two phases. The main two groups are seperated according to the function: the first is the vessels for eating and drinking; the second is vessels for storage; carrying; and cooking. The forms of the first group are the small/middle sized; fine plates; bowls; beakers-cups; mugs; pitchers-jugs; and jars; the second group forms are the coarse deep bowls; jars; pithoi; and trays. The dominant group is Ware G with surface colors of shades of brown and dark gray. The paste is grit and plant tempered in coarse wares and nontempered in fine wares. Most of the vessels are slipped with the same clay as the paste; some are paint-slipped; and all are burnished. The second group; Ware H; is plant and grit tempered; brown or black in color; burnished; and hard-fired with two main groups of plates-bowls and deep bowls. The third group; Ware I; recovered in small numbers; is low plant and grit tempered; light brown-beige or buff colored in paste; and paint slipped. The forms are limited in variety: cups-mugs; deep bowls; pitchers-jugs; and jars. The coarse wares for daily use show variety in form due to their function just as vessels for ritual purposes [Duru 1987b:312; 1996a:25-51]. Clay: Numerous pieces of clay woman figurines are recovered from the Early Chalcolithic levels. The steatopique features are not highly emphasised in the standing figurines. The arms are generally situated below the breasts. Some are clothed. In one of the figurine heads; recovered within the settlement debris; eyes are depicted with obsidian pieces and in one other the facial details are painted. The production technique is rather interesting: First; a cylinderical lump of clay is used as a core for the body; similar lumps are shaped and joined to this as the extremeties; and the details are depicted as the last stage. There are no animal figurines; on the other hand the handles of the clay spoons and the jars are shaped mostly as bull heads. Other clay finds are small scoops; miniature rectangular tables with four feet; boxes; braziers; portable furnaces; pot-stands; miniature vessels; and pierced objects and plaques; the function of which could not be understood [Duru 1983a:32-33; 1983b:17-18; 1987b:309; 1994:60-64]. The clay finds of the Late Chalcolithic Age are not rich in amount when the duration and the size of the settlements from this period are considered. They are a red paint slipped figurine of the Mother Goddess; an idol resembling a swaddled baby; animal figurines of sheep and goats; a rhyton in the shape of a bird; two crucibles; spindle-whorls; loom weights; and androns (Duru 1986a:25; Umurtak 1996a:51-54]. Chipped Stone: The dominant raw material of this industry in Early Chalcolithic Age period is flintstone. The probablity is high that the flint source is Bag Creek right north of the site. A small amount of examples in gray-black obsidian are recovered as well; but it is concluded that the use of obsidian has increased in the Early Chalcolithic compared to the Neolithic. Blade technology is dominant in Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic industries. There are sickle-blades and perforators; both small in amount. The most of the flakes are not retouched; at all [Baykal-Seeher 1994:71-75]. The raw material of the Late Chalcolithic industry is mostly flint and a small amount of obsidian. The variety of the tools is limited and blades are dominant. Some differences observed in the industry since the Neolithic Age are the disappearance of discs and scrapers at this period; and the emergence of large blades produced by hammering. However; the production and use of sickle-blades continue [Baykal-Seeher 1996:61-63]. Ground Stone: One interesting find from the Early Chalcolithic settlements is the white marble idol. There are also vessel sherds out of marble; beads; and small stone plaques with two holes. Various types of chisels are recovered. The miniature chisels; the medium triangular ones; and rectangular ones are higher in amount than the large ones. The spherical stones with hitting traces are interpreted as sling stones. Other finds of the industry are pestles and mortars out of basalt and numerous pounders and grinding stones [Duru 1981b:6; Umurtak 1994b:69-71]. The Late Chalcolithic ground stone industry is not rich in variety; but all finds are fine productions: A necklace tip in the shape of a schematic woman figurine; a pendent in the shape of an idol; small beads are recovered besides an alabaster box lid decorated with bull head reliefs; burnishing stones; weights; channeled biley* stones; chisels; various pounders; and pestles and mortars with one; two or three divisions [Umurtak 1996d:59-61]. Bone/Antler: The rich Early Chalcolithic finds are spoons; pierced/nonpierced tools for scraping; pins and needles; perforators with two ends; few spindle-whorls out of bone; burnishing tools out of antler; rod-handles for stone chisels; and tubular objects [Umurtak 1994a:65-69]. The bone tools of the Late Chalcolithic Age are rich; as well. Pins; toggle pins; perforators; thin and pointed tools for scraping; spindle-whorls are usually out of sheep; goat; and cattle bones. A semicircular pendent; pierced on two ends is an interesting find made out of pig tooth. Rod-handles; burnishing tools; and hammers are made of fallow deer and roe deer antlers [Umurtak 1996b:54-56]. Metal: Metallurgy of Kuruçay is known from the Late Chalcolithic levels. There are pins (needles); spearheads; axe-chisels; and knives. There are 20 pins whereas the spearhead and the knife are represented only by one example each. The semicircular axe-chisels with wide and sharp edge*; narrow ense*; and flat blade are understood to be hammered after being smelted and moulded. It is assumed that the copper used for these tools is obtained by smelting [Umurtak 1996c:56-59]. Human Remains: Three burials are recovered from the Early Chalcolithic settlement of Kuruçay. Two are of adults and the other is of a 5-6 years old infant. All are inhumations. The orientation of all three is different and two are in hocker position. The grave goods are a flat stone plaque on the chest of one body and a few large stones from another. The 50 jar burials and 4 inhumations recovered from the Late Chalcolithic levels are mostly intramural and under the floors. The jar burials are of infants; while the other are of adults. The textile remains recovered on the bodies prove the tradition of wrapping the bodies. There are no grave goods. The number of the burials suggests the extramural burial tradition when the population of the settlement is considered. However; no cemetery could be recovered during the excavations. The skeletal analyses have shown that the inhabitants of Kuruçay were not different than the modern man [Duru 1988a:67; 1994:18; 1996a:24; Deniz 1994:78-80]. Fauna: The Levels 10-7 of the Early Chalcolithic Age settlement yields bones of wild cattle (Bos primigenius-Bos taurus); sheep/goat (Ovis/capra); wild pig (Sus scrofa); odd-toed ungolates-horse (Equus); wild cattle or roe deer (Bos primigenius/Cervidae); wild sheep (Ovis ammon); wild water buffalo (Bos bufalo); fallow deer (Cervus elephus); and other undetermined carnivoures; gnawing animals; and cats. The morphological analyses show that these were unexpectedly not domesticated and that most were wild [Deniz-Sentuna 1989:176; Deniz 1994:78-81]. The primary faunal finds of the Late Chalcolithic settlement are bones of wild cattle (Bos primigenius); and the following are the others that are recovered: deers; sheep-goat; horse; pig; and carnivoures. Cats; bears; and gnawing animals are very few but present. The analyses show that the sheep; goat; and cattle were taken into breed but not utterly domesticated [Deniz 1996:87-88]. Flora: The consumption of wheat (Triticum vulgare sp.) is concluded from the burnt wheat finds. It is assumed that weeds (Poaceae); pine trees (Pineceae); and broad-leaved trees (Labitae) were used for the roof mesh [Deniz 1983:119; 123; Deniz-Sentuna 1989:177]. All the floral remains of the Late Chalcolithic settlements are recovered from the burnt areas in Levels 3; 6; and 6A. The main sources of nutrition are emmer wheat; six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare); lentil (Lena culinaris); and linen (Linium usitassimum); damson (Lathyrus sativus or L.cicera) is also important for it could be gathered in high amounts [Nesbitt 1996:89-93]. Another interesting find is the mattress recovered from the floor of the 6A temple [Duru 1996a:12]. Other: A pierced mollusk shell and a oyster shell are used for ornament [Umurtak 1996b:55].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic Age settlements of Kuruçay have a cultural unity; whereas with the Late Chalcolithic; a different culture is introduced by the site. The differences between these two cultures is interpreted as the coming of foreign peoples to Kuruçay at the beginning of Late Chalcolithic. The 14C date from a charred wood from the Early Chalcolithic is 7214+-38 BP; and the analogies suggest the period between 5100-5000 BC [Duru 1983b:34; 1994:91]. The 14C dates from Level 6; 6A of the Late Chalcolithic are 4740-4620 BP; and calibrated dates of 3620-3350 BC. The Late Chalcolithic Age settlement as a whole (Levels 6A-3) dates to the period between 3800-3200 BC [Duru 1996a:102].


To List