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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Tirmil Tepe |
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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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140 m |
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Region:
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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Mersin |
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District:
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Merkez |
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Village:
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Çilek |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Ceramic |
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| Location: The site lies in Çilek Quarter; northeast of the city of Mersin; and north of the Mersin-Tarsus highway and railroad tracks. The mound can be found on a 1:200;000 map. |
| Geography and Environment: The mound that is also known as Turmil or Termil is 12 m high and has a 30 m diameter. The top part of the mound is flat. Modern buildings have been built on the slopes of the mound. There are stone ruins of a late period structure on the top of the mound. Since the site lies on a trade route; the ruins are believed to have been a stop for travelers. This site is believed to be where the Kale-i Hebelleç castle; which lies between the Mersin and Tarsus; is located. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1951 during the Cilician surface survey led by M.V. Seton-Williams. |
| Stratigraphy: The ceramics collected on this mound have been dated from the Chalcolithic Period to the Middle Ages. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: Seton-Williams notes that he discovered some pre-Halaf and transitional painted pottery [Seton-Williams 1954:130]. No other information has been provided on the finds. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The finds do suggest that there is a Late Neolithic-Early Chalcolithic pre-Halaf layer at the site. In ASPRO; the site has been placed into phase 6/2 [Hours et al. 1994]. |
