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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Tell Dhahab / Altintepe |
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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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220 m |
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Region:
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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Hatay |
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District:
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Reyhanli |
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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 III EBA II |
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| 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 stratification of the mound was identified in accordance with trench TT1 and the surface finds. The presence of settlements belonging to Phase A; F and H of the Amuq Plain can be claimed. Walls dating to the Middle Age were uncovered at the top level. The EBA settlement is represented at trenchs TT1 and TT2 only by Phase H (suspected Phase G). |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Mudbrick walls and remains of a kiln belonging to phase H were uncovered. They are reported to be no worth to mention [Braidwood-Braidwood 1960:345]. Pottery: Samples of simple plain ware; reserved slip decorated ware belonging to phase G were recovered. Plenty of vessels of red-black burnished ware specific to phase H were found at Tell Dhahab just like the other EBA settlements of the Amuq Plain. Forms of ring-bottomed flat bowl; incision decorated stands and lids are common [Braidwood-Braidwood 1960:fig.282/1; 13; 10]. The fruit-stands are decorated with horizontal grooves and chevron. Other groups of phase H ware are represented by sherds only. Clay: Sample of movable hearths; a characteristic of phase H; called andiron was also uncovered at Dhabab. It is reported to be included in the group of red-black burnished ware. It bears human face depictions. An idol; upper part broken; included in the human and animal figurines; resembles the Central Anatolian idols in form. A sheep figurine; recovered from the second mixed level; is thought to belonging to phase G or H. It has a pointed nose; long neck and projected ring eyes. Ground Stone: Fragment of a stone mace (?) with small holes and EBA type-seal stampings [Braidwood-Braidwood 1960:fig.379/1-2] were recovered from the surface. Bone/Antler: The surface of the mound yielded plenty of awls and blades in bone among the finds coming from the second mixed layer. A spearhead pointed in bone and a decoration accessory is among the amazing finds [Braidwood-Braidwood 1960: fig.384/9-10]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Among the surface finds of the second mixed layer of Tell Dhabab are the finds probably dating to the phases G and H of the Amuq Plain (EBA I-II) . |
