©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Pulur / Sakyol

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Pulur / Sakyol
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 800 m
Region:
 Eastern Anatolia
Province:
 Tunceli
District:
 Çemisgezek
Village:
 Sakyol
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 EBA I EBA II

     

Location: It was located immediate northeast of the village; 45 km northwest the Elazig Province before it was flooded by the Keban Dam. It was named after the nearest village as Sakyol/Pulur (some publications refer to as Pulur/Sakyol). Pulur was its former name; but its recent name is Sakyol. Unlike the naming of other mounds; both names are used. Pulur is the correct one; but in order to prevent any confusion with other mounds named Pulur; Pulur/Sakyol is preferred. The excavator uses both names alternately. However; K. Kökten who discovered this mound refers to it as Kültepe at Pulur [Kökten 1947:462].
Geography and Environment: The mound was located 4-5 km far from the place where the Murat and Karasu streams join. It measured 20 m in height above the plain together with the natural hill underneath and 80x120 m in dimensions. It was a medium sized mound. It had steep slopes and a flat top hill. The thickness of the cultural deposit was measured around 13-15 m after the excavation. Even before submerged; it had been severely damaged by the modern village obscuring it.
History:
Research and Excavation: It was documented under code no. N 52/5 during a survey conducted by R. Whallon and S. Kantman in the context of the Keban Project in 1967 [Whallon-Kantman 1970:5; Whallon 1979:171]. As it was going to submerge; an urgent salvage excavation was started and continued for four seasons between 1968-1970 by H.Z. Kosay [Kosay 1976a].
Stratigraphy: 13 levels were identified. They are shown in Roman numerals. Of these levels; levels XIII-XII are dated to the Late Chalcolithic Age and the others (levels XI-I) to the EBA. It is suggested that whole levels should be grouped into three cultural phases. The virgin soil was reached. The presence of pithoi dated to the Achaemenid Period during the excavation on the southern foothill exposes that the site had also been largely inhabited during periods other than the Chalcolithic Age and the EBA.
Small Finds: Architecture (ascending order): Following the occupation during the Chalcolithic Age; a new settlement was established at Pulur in a rather distinctive plan than the previous period. Some walls used throughout the all building levels from XI to IX dated to this age expose that they share a similar cultural phase. The building levels IX and X underwent a massive fire [Kosay 1976a:pl.117]. The central part of the flat hill formed by the deposit of the Chalcolithic Age was left as an open courtyard; and the two-lines of houses adjacent to each other were built to surround the courtyard in a radial plan in these three building levels. The fortified-like appearance was obtained by means of this plan. Outside the outer line; ruins of terrace walls on a stone socle were uncovered. No fortification walls are reported by the excavator. As the foothill of the settlement was not excavated; main fortification walls are assumed to be found here. In order to arrange it to the radial plan; the structures were built four-cornered; squared or crooked. The central courtyard was employed as; aside workshops; stable. Since only the eastern and northeastern parts were excavated; the main gate is suggested to be found in the unexcavated sections. The outer far rooms are entered through a stepped threshold from the apprentice-like rooms fronting the courtyard. This indicates that the village was not established in the same level; but in echelons adjusted to the hill. Next to each house; there is a storage well; plastered inside; for crops. The thickness of the mudbrick walls is 30-50 cm. Adjacent rooms share party walls. Inside the rooms; there is a main hearth with an ash channel; a kiln looking like this hearth and a horseshoe-like hearth. It is noted that the flat structure of the roofs is much the same as today's Eastern Anatolian structures. The roof was supported by pillars. It is suggested that the rooms; probably; took the daylight through the small holes near the ceiling in the outer narrow walls. The flat roofs were used as atelier and sleeping place; particularly in summer. They were; probably; climbed from the courtyard. Among these three building levels; level X yielded the most significant finds revealing the daily life of EBA in the region. Some rooms in this building level (e.g. Room No. 79-80; 83) yielded hearths with cult Mother Goddess/God statues depicted as bottom of his/her dress extended as well as some temple goods which reflect a proceeding religious communal life. The faces of the goddess/god at these hearths are limited to a triangular shape. The eyes and the mouth are depicted in relief rings and the nose in a relief line. The other faces represented at the end of their arms expose that we are dealing with a pantheon of gods. One of the sculptures depicts the genital organ of a woman. The hearths measure ca. 60 cm in width; 100 cm in length and 50 cm in height. Behind; there is a stone projection; and it is suggested that the movable hearths with; again; god depictions at their end are placed on this projection with the help of a stick. The small channels on the bench behind the statue hearth are; probably; for shedding the blood of animals. The cult hearth found at room number 83 [Kosay 1976a:pl. 21] completely covered by stones is associated with the collapse of the projection wall or the intentional brick up of the hearth according to H.Z. Kosay [Kosay 1976a:16]. Of the statue hearths; faces being oriented toward the west in the rooms' no. 79 and 80; one is an altar of god; and the other is an altar of goddess [Kosay 1976a:pl.37]. The building levels of Pulur; aside these three levels; yielded religious objects. Among the samples is a bucranium of clay between the arms of the hearth functioning as a trivet in the room no. 74. The presence of kilns and horseshoe-like hearths used in the daily life in the same rooms exposes that those hearths were built for religious purposes only. They are suggested to be family temples. H.Z. Kosay claims that these temples are related with the fire; and the origin of fire worshipping by shamans can even be dated back to the EBA. Among the building levels V-VIII; level V yielded the most planned architecture. A building consisting of adjacent rooms (12 rooms) in different dimensions was uncovered in the mid-upper part of the hill [Kosay 1971:pl.73]. It was built of mudbrick on a single line stone socle. The roof is assumed to be flat much as the same in today's Eastern Anatolian roofs. The rooms are entered through door paths. Some rooms were used as cellar; some as kitchen. It is assumed that there is a courtyard on the southern front of the house. A single room was built a little far from the building. The building levels VI and VII yielded constructions; again; built of mudbrick on a single line weak stone socle; but with an unclear plan. Most of the rooms are uneven. This unevenness can; probably; be related with the radial planning determined in the lower levels whereas it can be also suggested that the settlement plan underwent a change. The building levels I-IV on the top hill didn't yield anything other than floors and remains of the hearths. The levels have been almost demolished due to erosion. Pottery: (ascending order): The monochrome; geometrical decorated ware and the black-red burnished ware (Karaz ware) are recovered together from the lower levels XII-IX. Number of the blackish brown painted on a light colored; cream color pasted ware identified as the tradition of the Late Chalcolithic Age by H.Z. Kosay is poor among the pottery recovered. Common ware is the Karaz ware. Inside the temples; the big jars of this ware are decorated with relief and stylized animal patterns. These reliefs reflect the imagination of the inhabitants of Pulur. This ware; in fact; remains unchanged in all levels. Forms of jug; bowl; mug; cup and small jar are common. Besides these forms; stands are interesting particularly with their elaborate decorations [Kosay 1976a:pl. 81-82]. Also found are beautiful samples of the decorated vessels. Swastika; sun with pencil of light and hook decorations were applied on the lids. Biochrome; geometrical decorated ware lasted from the level VIII till the level I is utilized again together with the black-red burnished ware/Karaz ware. The painting decorated ware has geometrical decoration in pink and brown on a red background. Aside geometrical patterns; there are stylized bird and chamois pictures. For this kind of ware; white colored paste of clay was preferred. Clay: Finds are movable hearth stands with rectangular prism-like channels and projections at four corners; spoons in terra cotta and big "çeç" seals claimed to stamp the stems of the crops collected. Flat idols; cylindrical idols; bird-like figurines; various animal figurines and spindle whorls constitute the rich clay inventory of Pulur. A tile colored metal casting mould proves the extent prehistoric mining in Anatolia has reached during the EBA. Its two wide faces are for casting flat axe and the two narrow faces for chisel [Kosay 1976a:72; pl.110/10]. This find was recovered from the level III. Chipped Stone: Tools and weapons like knife; saw; scraper; chisel; borer; winged spearhead; lance head chipped from dark and light brown; white; wax-colored flint and black/grey obsidian were recovered. Ground Stone: Flat axes; shaft-holed hammer; shaft-holed axe in greenish; grey and black stones were recovered. Also found are objects like hanger; weights and mace. Series of beads; hangers and amulets are found as accessories used by the inhabitants of Pulur. Spindle whorls and knobs in stone are poor in number. A flat goddess idol of fertility is; aside idols of clay; a unique sample in stone. A mould for metal objects in sandstone was found. It has a quadrangular cavity [Kosay 1976a:92]. The grinding stone exposes that they were grinding the cereals inside the village. The finds listed hereinabove do not demonstrate any differences throughout the levels. Bone/Antler: Other than plenty of awls; smoothers; hooks and heads were recovered. Also found are samples of hammers in antler typical of Eastern Anatolia. The sickle in antler with obsidian tooth recovered from the level X is the most beautiful sample of its type [Kosay1976a:pl.109]. Metal: The metallic finds are poor compared to the area excavated. A flat chisel and a few spearhead were recovered. Among them; the one found under the level XI has a form of a triangular blade crested in the center [Kosay 1976a:pl.100/5]. The pins were identified as bronze like the spearheads by H.Z. Kosay. Metal ingot and slags were recovored from the level X expose a mining workshop in the settlement. It has been also attested by the presence of moulds in stone and clay (See Clay and Ground Stone). Human Remains: Finding only one skeleton between the levels VI and VIII-IX suggests the presence of an extramural cemetery. H.Z. Kosay indicates the area next to the mound and the village ideal for the cemetery; but he couldn't conduct any excavation there [Kosay 1976a:36].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The EBA villagers of Pulur were dealing with livestock and agriculture. They were not much interested in water products. The excavation didn't yield any fish-bones. The grains recovered expose that they grew wheat; einkorn and drum wheat as well as barley. They harvested with sickles in obsidian and flint toothed horn. The bones of the wild animals recovered reveals that the nutrition economy was combined with hunting. The spearheads in obsidian and flintstone were; probably; used for hunting. Domestic and wild animals was cut with blades made of the same materials; and the skin of the animals were parted by scrapers. Wools of the animals were spinned by spindle whorls; and they were woven inside the settlement. The villagers; probably; were ruled by a chief. The house that might have the features of a chief's house is; probably; located in the nonexcavated area. All houses; except three temples; yielded almost similar finds. Although all contemporary settlements are fortified; no city walls were uncovered at Pulur. The stone foundations uncovered on the terraces are claimed to be city walls. The outer walls of the houses were built bricked up so that a castle-like appearance was obtained. Each houses a main hearth; a horseshoe-like hearth next to it; and things like a large stone mortar and grinding stone around it. It is assumed that big wooden logs were fired at big hearths; and the glowing coals were transferred to movable hearths. The meal was cooked on these movable hearths. The cemetery is extramural. The fixed cult hearths identical to each other in two adjacent rooms are interpreted as devoted to the Mother Goddess and her husband (?). The presence of cult hearths through all levels of EBA represents a long-lasting religious tradition. Two 14C dates were taken from the settlement called Pulur/Sakyol or Sakyol/Pulur. The building level V was dated; uncalibrated; to 2350 BC and the building level VIII to 2470 BC while the building levels V-VIII are dated to the second half of the third millennium BC and the building levels IX-XI to the early phase (first quarter) of the third millennium BC [Yakar 1985a:291].


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