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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Nevali Çori |
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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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490 m |
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Region:
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Southeastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Sanliurfa |
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District:
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Hilvan |
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Village:
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Gülusagi |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Early |
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| Location: This site lies north of the city of Sanliurfa; west of the town of Hilvan; approximately 750 m northwest of the village of Gülusagi; between Kantara and the Süleymanbey neighborhood. |
| Geography and Environment: The name of the site has appeared differently in a number of publications including Nevalla Çori; Nevali Çori and Novalo Çori. The site lies in two places in the area where Kantara Stream meanders west and then north; one is on the western bank of Kantara Stream; close to the dam lake and the other is on the eastern bank of this stream; at the foot of Mount Yangintepe limestone outcrop in a 90x40 m area between two dried stream beds. While looking at the old Euphrates River from the village of Kantara; the site on the east was Nevali Çori I while the site on the west was Nevali Çori II. Excavation down to virgin soil has determined that the cultural material deposition at Nevali Çori I is 2 m thick. This site was settled in many periods after the Aceramic Neolithic. This is probably due to the fact that the Kantara Valley; literally the "Valley of Illnesses"; is rich in springs. The site has been partially flooded by the dam lake; which is now receding into the Kantara Stream Valley. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1980 during the surface survey led by H.G. Gebel. Excavations were conducted between 1983-1991 under the direction of H. Hauptmann and the support of the Heidelberg and Urfa Museums. The first excavated part of the site was Nevali Çori I; east of Kantara Stream. Excavations on Nevali Çori II followed [Harmankaya et al. 1997:Nevali Çori]. It is inundated since 1992. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The latest stratum of the settlement is of Roman Period followed by the 0.30 m thick strata of Early Bronze Age and Chalcolithic (Halafian) Age on the 1 m thick alluvial torrent deposit. Besides; the site is famous with its interesting Aceramic Neolithic (PPNB) settlement [Hauptmann 1984:228; Harmankaya et al. 1997:Nevali Çori]. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Halaf Period architectural remains in Nevali Çori are out of limestone and the walls are preserved to a height of 60 cm. The remains of a single structure are recovered in an open area. It consists of a 13 m long double-wall with a round room (tholos) on both ends. One of these rooms has an adjacent rectangular room in front. These remains are dated back to the 2nd half of the 6th Millennium BC; Middle Chalcolithic Age; Halaf Period. Pottery: The monochrome ware and Halafian Painted Ware have parallels in Kurban Höyük VIII; Çavi Tarlasi; and Amuq D [Hauptmann 1987:206]. Human Remains: The burial of a woman is recovered in a small; round structure east of the excavated area. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The Halafian settlement of Nevali Çori is compared with Halafian cultural remains in Çavi Tarlasi; Girikihaciyan; and Turlu. |
