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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Polatli |
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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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865 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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Merkez |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA II EBA III |
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| Location: It is adjacent to the Polatli District; about 65 km southwest of the Ankara Province [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:photograph at pl.II]. It is; probably; where it is called Zafer Höyügü. At present; it is surrounded by the modern town. |
| Geography and Environment: It has a circular shape; 25 m in height and 200 m in diameter. It has been severely damaged by the local villagers during the removal of clay earth; largely in the northern and southern sections of the mound. There is a fresh water spring nearby. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was excavated for a period not exceeding three weeks in 1949 by S. Lloyd and N. Gökçe in order to prevent any further damages. The trenches were opened in the destructed southern section and on the top hill; identified by letters such as A; AA; B; C; D; E. The building levels of EBA were uncovered in the B (1-4) and C trenches. The confined excavation didn't provide very successful results; however at least it has proved that the site is one of the layered settlements of the Ankara region. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The site yielded 31 building levels extending from the surface down to the virgin soil. The building levels were grouped into 4 levels/phases by the excavators; the building levels I-X are called Phase I and building levels XI-XV Phase II; both dated to EBA II (Copper Age) and III while the building levels XVI-XXII are dated to the first century of the second millennium BC (Assyrian Colony Period) and building levels XXIII-XXXI to the Hittite Period. Unlike this grouping by the excavators; other scientists divide the building levels in a different way as a result of the comparison of pottery finds to the ones recovered from the other settlements. Grouping and definition of the architectural and small finds are given according to the stratification identified by the excavators [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:23-24]. |
| Small Finds: Architecture (ascending order): All building levels house constructions built of mudbrick on a stone socle. The lower building levels I and II yielded a four-cornered structure sitting on the virgin soil. Fragments of mudbrick walls on stone socles were uncovered in the building levels VI; VIII; XI and XII rising from lower to upper. Presence of four-cornered buildings are suggested [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:fig.2]. The building level XV which underwent a massive fire is the best level revealing a plan among all the EBA (?) levels. The 1 m thick stone socle was measured 50 cm high [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:fig.3]. Unfortunately; the small area excavated does not allow having a better idea about the settlement plan. Assumptions about the roofs are based on the ruins inside the buildings; and they are thought to be flat. Pottery: The last building level of the level I yielded small bowls and jugs representing this level. They were washed in red and then burnished after decorated with shallow excisions. Likes of the black colored pottery recovered from Ahlatlibel were also found at Polatli. Sherds decorated with white on red; white on black paints were recovered from the level I. Recovery of Troy II type of depas is significant in terms of the cultural relations and problems in dating. Two jugs and a cup published by B. Tezcan in 1956 are said to be from this mound. B. Tezcan informs in a footnote that the mound called Zafer Höyügü is same as Polatli [Tezcan 1956:346-347; pic.5-6]. The exteriorly and interiorly red washed and burnished spouted pitchers are typical of the third millennium BC. A red-crossed cup recovered from the building level XI exposes that this building level is contemporary with Troy V and Kültepe karum III-IV. Therefore; it is better to date the building levels XI and XII to the end of EBA; transitional period of EBA/MBA. Clay: A stylized idol typical of Central Anatolia is interesting. Chipped Stone: The flint and obsidian chipped stone industry of the mound was examined by J. Waechter in detail. It is noted that tools were chipped from flint; chalcedony; obsidian and white quartz. Samples of arrow/spear heads; sickle-knives and blades were recovered. Presence of sickle-knives is an indication of the agriculture. The number of stone tools is very poor. Probably; they were not collected carefully. Metal: Pins and awls were recovered from the lower levels of Polatli. A shaft-holed axe/hammer and a short sword collected from the surface are assumed to come from EBA levels. 15 metallic finds were evaluated by C. Göksan and E. Onat. Two of them are in bronze; and the others in copper [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:75]. Human Remains: Burials recovered from Polatli Höyük reflect the burial customs of the community lived here during EBA. The excavation yielded a simple pit burial housing an adult's skeleton leant on his right side in hocker position [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:pl.III/e]. No grave goods were found. A cist grave; 110x50 in dimensions; was found in the building level VI. It was built by flat stone plates; and capped by the same type of stones. The inhumation was again left leaning on his right side in hocker position without any grave goods while the cist grave uncovered in building level VII yielded an infant's skeleton buried in the same position accompanied with a depas [Lloyd-Gökçe 1951:27]. The skeletons of Polatli Höyük were examined by M.S. Senyürek. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The stratification of Polatli Höyük is taken differently by W. Orthmann who divides the Phase I into two; by including the building levels I-IV of the excavators in Phase Ia and building levels V-XI of the excavators in Phase Ib and claims that there is a gap between Ia and Ib [Orthmann 1963:28-30]. He dates Phase Ia to EBA II and Phase Ib to the transition from the third millennium BC to the second millennium BC [Orthmann 1963:table 9] while M. Korfmann presents another table for the stratification of Polatli Höyük; particularly based on the excavations conducted at Demircihöyük and Troy. He evaluates the lower levels I-V as EBA IIb; levels VI-VIII as EBA IIIa; levels IX-X as EBA IIIb and levels XI-XII as transition period. To summarize those different approaches in a table: Lloyd-Gökçe (1951) Orthmann (1963) Korfmann (1989) I-X: Phase I I-IV: Ia: EBA II I-V: EBA II b Gap VI-VIII: EBA III a XI-XV: Phase II V-XI: Ib: Intermediate IX-X: EBA III b XI-XII: Transition The cultural relation with Ahlatlibel and Troy II is definite. The cross decorated vessels recovered from the upper building levels indicate the transition period from EBA to MBA. Those levels yielded samples of Cappodician ware. |
