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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Sakçagözü Magarasi |
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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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Cave |
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Altitude:
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750 m |
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Region:
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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Gaziantep |
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District:
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Nurdagi |
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Village:
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Sakçagözü |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Aceramic |
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| Location: This cave-site lies west-northwest of the city of Gaziantep; 250 m east of the village of Sakçagöz (old Keferdiz). Sakçagözü Magarasi is one of the caves along the road that goes from this village to the graveyard. Today the site is in an area where there has recently been much modern development. |
| Geography and Environment: Although the site is described as a cave; in some publications researchers have also referred to it as a rock-shelter. The dimensions of this cavity have not been reported. Garrard and crew report that a total of 13 caves were found during their 1994 survey in the area. These caves and the area in front of each cave yielded a lot of Neolithic and later material and ceramics. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The excavations were conducted in 1949 by J. Waechter; S. Gögüs; and V. Seton-Williams in the cave labeled Sakçagözü although it actually bears no name. The three trenches were opened at the skirts; in the interior of the cave; and at the centre of the cave. |
| Stratigraphy: The same stratigraphic layers were exposed in all three trenches. Bedrock was reached 150 cm below the cave floor. Since archaeological excavation methods have progressed since when these excavations were conducted; the site stratigraphy might now have to be viewed with skepticism. The soil color in the cave above and beneath the material cultural layer in the cave is light brown. The ceramic finds suggest that there were two separate periods at the site: Chalcolithic and second millennium BC. |
| Small Finds: Chipped Stone: Flint stone and obsidian blades; sickle blades; retouched points and Byblos points were found. Ground Stone: Burnished celts have been found but these have not been assigned to any particular period. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is not certain whether the material cultural deposit within the cave includes a Neolithic component. The excavators do not mention finding any material from this period. The excavation report; however; does include some; especially chipped stone tools; which appear to be characteristically "old". In ASPRO; the assignment of the site has taken into account the discovery of Byblos points which are typical of the Pre-Ubaid layers in the Gaziantep Region. ASPRO placed the site into phase 3/4. Uncalibrated dates for this phase; which is assigned to the pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) Period are 9;600-8;000 BP [Hours et al. 1994:229]. It is not certain which layer the material from this site; which has been assigned to the Neolithic Period; comes from. It is assumed that it is the earliest layer at the site; immediately above the bedrock. |
