|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tell Dhahab / Altintepe |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Mound |
|
Altitude:
|
220 m |
|
Region:
|
Mediterranean |
|
Province:
|
Hatay |
|
District:
|
Reyhanli |
|
Village:
|
Merkez |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
Ceramic |
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: The site lies southeast of the city of Antakya; 1.7 km southeast of the town of Reyhanli. |
| Geography and Environment: It is a 10 m high round mound with a 200 m diameter. The mound; known as Tell Dhahab or Altintepe; lies in the Amuq Plain. South of the mound is military zone and to the north the site of Tell el Cüdeyde takes place. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The mound was discovered in 1933 during the survey conducted by Braidwood. A deep sounding on the mound was dug in 1938. The sounding was a large stepped trench which was 4 m wide and 22.5 m long. This trench exposed the stratigraphy of the mound from the top down to a depth of 8 meters. Research resumed at Tell Dhahab in 1995 where profiles of the trench walls were drawn for two seasons as part of the excavation and research project conducted by A. Yener of the University of Chicago; Oriental Institute [Yener et al. 1996a:49]. |
| Stratigraphy: The stratigraphy of the mound was not determined but the finds collected showed Amuq A; F and H affinities. Virgin soil was probably not reached. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The architectural features uncovered in Phase A have not been described since the finds from this level were mixed. An oven; remains of walls and floors may date to this period. Pottery: The lowest levels of the mound yielded Amuq A; rough; plain; dark-burnished ware and wash slipped ware with stamp decoration. Phase A yielded coarse kitchen ware; with sand; mica and organic temper. Sherd cores were usually black while the inner and outer surfaces were orangey brown/buff in color. The surfaces were wet-smoothed and a few vessels were carelessly burnished. Oval bodied bowls are very common. The other vessel shapes include deep bowls and high necked jars with flaring mouths. Decorated vessels are rare but relief decoration along the rim and ring-vases can be found. The Dark Burnished Ware is also hand-made. The clay for these vessels is a shiny brownish buff color and the surface colors for the ware ranges between grayish-brown; dark buff and dirty yellowish buff. Mostly high and closed vessels are made with this type clay. Collared jars; shallow jars and closed forms are also present. The fact that closed forms are much more common than flaring vessels at the site of Tell Dhahab is a characteristic of this site that differs from the general Amuq A ceramics. A few washed and decorated ceramic fragments were also found. Chipped Stone: Many points which may be arrowheads were found. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The new research conducted in the area and at Tell Dhahab will answer some puzzling questions about the Amuq A Phase and determine the site stratigraphy. |
