©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Tepecik / Makaraz Tepe

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Tepecik / Makaraz Tepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 890 m
Region:
 Eastern Anatolia
Province:
 Elazig
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Tepecik
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 EBA III

     

Location: This site lies approximately 31 km east of the city of Elazig; immediately southwest of the village of Altinova; now flooded by the Keban Dam Lake. The survey code of the site is O 54 / 2.
Geography and Environment: Tepecik Höyük; which lies southeast of Altinova is also known as Makaraz Tepe. In many publications; the site is referred to as Tepecik. It is a middle-sized terraced mound; 16-17 m high; with a 200 m diameter. Heringet Stream is believed to have meandered by the mound. Before the land was flooded by the dam lake; this stream fed the Altinova Plain (also known as Ulu Ova). The spring southeast of the site must have supplied the inhabitants of the site with water.
History:
Research and Excavation: It was re-documented under code no. 054-2 during a survey conducted as a part of the Keban Project under R. Whallon and S. Kantman in 1967. The systematic surface collection yielded material of the Chalcolithic Age; the EBA; the second millennium BC; the Iron Age and the Middle Age [Whallon 1979:182-187; fig.81-85]. Excavations were conducted by U. Esin from the University of Istanbul between 1968-74 for 7 seasons until it was inundated. Although Tepecik provided considerable information for Anatolian Archaeology; it vanished before leaving some questions unanswered; like many other sites that were inundated.
Stratigraphy: The excavation conducted by the Prehistory Department; University of Istanbul has laid out that the site had been inhabited more or less continously from the Neolithic Age to the Middle Age. The hill was employed as a cemetery during the Iron Age. The EBA I-III levels of the mound were uncovered in the southern core so called "Old Mound" (southern; western and eastern slopes of the mound during the excavation). This mound stands on the central mound of the Chalcolithic Age. The northern and western slopes of the mound are called "New Mound" because of the MBA and LBA levels [Esin 1976:103]. Tepecik Höyük is an example of the multi-cored mounds repositioned in time. As it was a multi-cored mound; it is amazing to uncover the remains of EBA levels on one side and second millennium levels on the other side at the same level of the top hill trenches. The Late Chalcolithic Age/EBA I was uncovered through the deep sounding of K15. The presence of EBA finds recovered from the surrounding fields excavated both to identify the cemetery and verify the size of the settlement is an indication of the expansion of the settlement during that period into a wider area.
Small Finds: Architecture (ascending order): LC-EBA I: The fragments of walls suggest the presence of structures with small rooms on a stone socle. End of EBA I: The remains uncovered in the southern part of the mound expose that there is a fortification wall surrounding a small settlement which was built of mudbrick as a superstructure on a stone socle. The wall is supported by outer shore projections on the south [Esin 1982:pl.61/1]. Inside and outside the fortification walls; presence of four-cornered structures with mudbrick walls adjacent to the wall is observed. The wall also functioned like a terrace-wall. As the excavation is restricted to a small area; it is difficult to propose any comment regarding the public architecture and the socioeconomic conditions of the inhabitants. EBA II: The settlement is again fortified. It functions like a terrace-wall as well [Esin 1982:pl.61/2]. The adjacent mudbrick structures expose the fact that the main construction material is mudbrick. They have four-cornered plans. Circular hearths and benches are common inside the rooms. The wall disappears toward the east. The western part was not opened due to the mass earth accumulated after the excavation. It is suggested that the system of mudbrick quarters with intersecting streets uncovered at EBA III was established through the end of this period. EBA IIIa: Since it is the largest excavated area among other EBA layers; it provides a better architectural plan [Esin 1982:78-79; pl.67]. There are a lot of building levels; but the main plan remains unchanged. The quarters are in order; separated by streets intersecting each other in the east-west and the north-south directions. All the structures are in an adjacent order. A slightly terraced settlement is observed adjusted to the slopes of the old mound. Mudbrick houses have usually one or two rooms. The floors are of compressed clay. There are benches alongside the walls; four-cornered domed kilns in the center; and circular and horseshoe-like hearths. Movable hearths (andirons) are an indication of the heating method. The roofs are assumed to be flat earth roofs supported with wooden beams; same as today's Southeastern Anatolian roofs. The workshop benches; residues of matts and grinding stone uncovered in the room M of the upper building level are reflections of the daily life. Pottery: The most common ware of the EBA settlements at Tepecik is the one called Early Transcaucasian/Karaz/Khirbet Kerak/red-black burnished ware by the scientists. This ware; also called as Kura-Aras pottery in some of the publications; consists of carefully and elaborately burnished; handmade vessels with black; red; gray; brown exterior and interior surfaces; black exterior surface and red interior surface or vice versa [Esin 2000c:126]. Vast majority of them has same colors on their exterior and interior surfaces. Rarely found are samples of the non-burnished ware. Some of the Karaz ware is decorated with excisions and incisions [Yener 1974]. Among decoration styles; geometrical decorations are popular while schematized human and animal decorations are rare. The decorations are largely applied on big jugs and pithoi; probably used for storing. They are believed to be productive. Also found is the painting decorated ware said to be introduced through the end of EBA I and identified as the EBA II-III ware in the region. This ware continued in monochrome until the end of EBA. They were painted in red; black and brown with decorations seen in the Karaz ware on a light background. Some bear beautiful schematized animal depictions like chamois [Esin 1970:pl.20-24]. Besides these major groups of ware; vessels of restricted amount of the wheel-made fine ware (simple plain ware) [Esin 1970:pl.16 ]; largely; the handmade reserved slip decorated ware; the wheel-made Akkads-style ware (tannan ware/metallic ware) [Ürgün 1970]; the straw-faced ware and the coarse kitchen ware were also recovered. The number of the wheel-made fine ware and the reserved slip decorated ware is more than the Karaz ware. The straw-faced ware is again seen at first phase. The vessels of Karaz ware are observed to have long necks during the first phase [Esin 1974:pl.107/1]. The Karaz ware is restricted in form. Forms of open vessels; jug; pithos-jug; cup; narrow-necked cup; linger; lid and stands are observed [Esin 1979a:pl.61-64]. The goblet with animal head recovered from EBA III is a unique form in this region [Esin 1974:pl.103/1]. The Akkads ware is only represented by cup and goblets. They are thought to be imported. Handmade; reserved slip decorated vessels are only attractive with their decoration technique. Their wheel-made samples are also available [Esin 1979a:lev.18-19]. Clay: Terra cotta idols and animal figurines were recovered. Among the idols (human figurines); bird-faced idol in discoid form is of Central Anatolian type while the female figurine with two-noses recalls the types of Syria-Southeastern Anatolia. Those two finds expose that EBA culture was influenced by both regions. Among the animal figures; there are animals like bull and pig. The horseshoe-like movable hearths have also a cult function [Esin 1972:pl.110/4]. Limited number of wheels recovered belongs to toy carts [Esin 1972:pl.108/4-5]. Loomweights and spindle whorls are evidences of a weaving industry. Chipped Stone: Vast majority of the tools chipped from flint and obsidian is the front and side scrapers. Samples of various spearheads with equilateral quadrangular; triangular blades; short-winged triangular blades; long and pointed winged triangular blades were identified [Esin 1971:pl.89/1-7]. Presence of a blade industry is observed. Ground Stone: Plenty of grinding stones recovered from the floors inside the rooms indicates the intensity of agriculture. Burnishing stones pierced from the back to hang up; and burnished small flat axes were found [Esin 1982:pl.78/13-15]. Finished or semi-finished shaft-holed axes and hammers were recovered. Bone/Antler: Combs identified as weaving combs [Esin 1982:pl.78/3]; and beautiful samples of shaft-holed hammers assumed to be employed for treating leather or shaping metallic cups were recovered. Also found are "T" headed pins and various types of awls. Metal: Finding one part of a bilateral stone mould with a cavity for long tanged spearheads is an evidence of the metal casting performed inside the settlement by the inhabitants. However; the amount of metallic find is limited. A double eyed pin in copper; ring headed pin [Esin 1982:pl.78/] and a small dagger/pocket knife with a long triangular tang are among the rare metallic finds [Esin 1976a:pl.72/1]. All these finds indicate that there is a developed mining technology. Sealing: Density of the trade can be determined by the seals in terra cotta and stone recovered. Decorations on these stamp and cylinder seals are usually geometrical patterns [Esin 1972:pl.109/3-4]. A sherd bearing the stamp seal of the Jamdat Nasr Period recovered from the building level of the Late Chalcolithic-EBA I played a major role in the dating of this level [Esin 1976a:108]. Very big and spiral ended "çeç" seals were; probably employed for sealing big bales of straw [Esin 1970:pl.11/3] Human Remains: Absence of any intramural burials dating from this age both at Tepecik and the other EBA settlements at Altinova resulted in a conclusion that they buried their dead in areas far from the settlement (extramurally). The small soundings carried out in the surrounding territory didn't yield any graves. The alluvial deposit might have caused the graves to remain very deep. An intramural burial was uncovered inside the foundation of the fortification walls from EBA II. Belonging to an infant; this small grave was limited by mudbrick walls like a cist grave. Fauna: Animal bones analysed by Boessneck and Driesch yielded the presence of cattle; sheep; goat; pig and dog without making any differentiation for Chalcolithic Age and EBA. Also found are the bones of the hunted animals. Flora: As a result of the analysis by Hillman; presence of plane-tree; poplar-tree as well as wheat and barley was identified during the fourth-third millennia B.C at Altinova. The environment is informed to be rich in flora.
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: U.Esin proposes that there are small; but significant settlements at Tepecik when the features of the EBA settlements are taken into consideration [Esin 1982:93]. Fortifying the settlement from the end of EBA I is an evidence to this approach. In spite of the absence of any evidence; the fortification walls of EBA III are said to be very far from the slope of the hill. As the cemetery of Middle Age was spread onto the entire hill and they were excavated by great efforts and time; the lower levels were brought to light only in small areas. The significance of Tepecik settlements originates from the fact that they functioned like a bridge in the intercultural relationship between Mesopotamia-Southeastern Anatolia-Mediterranean; Caucasia- Northeastern Anatolia; Iran-Eastern Anatolia and Central Anatolia just like the settlement of the Chalcolithic Age.


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