©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Tülintepe

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Tülintepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 830 m
Region:
 Eastern Anatolia
Province:
 Elazig
District:
 Merkez
Village:
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Early Late

     

Location: Before it was inundated by Keban Dam; the site used to lie approximately 21 km east of Elazig; between and close to the old Elazig-Bingöl railway and highway.
Geography and Environment: Tülintepe is one of the five mounds; inundated by Keban Dam. Moreover; soil from Tülintepe was used to construct a new railway; because Elazig-Bingöl railway and highway were going to be inundated. Therefore; upper parts of the mound were removed by a bulldozer; thus destroying the upper layers. Tülintepe was 200x250 m in area and 16.60 m high before the destruction. Geophysical analyses suggest that the deposit of the mound still continues down to 5/6 m below the surface [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:137; 139].
History:
Research and Excavation: The accessibility of the mound by railway on the north and by motorway on the south attracted the attention of many researchers conducting survey in the Eastern Anatolia region. The history of Altinova/Uluova Research; including Tülintepe as well; begins with the 1945 surveys conducted by Kiliç Kökten for TTK (Turkish History Foundation) in Eastern Anatolia; it is mentioned in the reports of P. Meriggi; and C. Burney; who conducted surveys in Eastern Anatolia; reports the sherds collected from the surface of the mound. The photograph displaying the condition of the mound before the destruction was published by P. Meriggi. Removal of the upper levels resulted in the larger excavation of the lower levels. In 1966; surveys for documenting the sites that were going to be inundated by Keban Dam were conducted by METU; Department of Restoration and Preservation of Historical Heritage. In 1967; surveys were jointly conducted by the University of Istanbul Prehistory Department and the University of Michigan Anthropology Museum. Then; excavations were conducted by U. Esin and G. Arsebük from the University of Istanbul Prehistory Department from 1971 to 1974 [Özbasaran 1992:1; 53].
Stratigraphy: According to the surface finds and surveys; recovered after the destruction; the latest settlement at Tülintepe belongs to Ottoman Period; which is followed by the 1st Millennium AD; 1st Millennium BC; LBA; MBA; EBA; and Chalcolithic Age settlements. The latest period to encounter architectural remains is EBA. Late Chalcolithic Age was revealed at a limited area south of the mound. There is a hiatus of a few layers between the Late Chalcolithic and Early Chalcolithic Age; which was excavated in a broad area. Excavations stopped before virgin soil was reached; because it was impossible to continue working within water table below the Early Chalcolithic layers.
Small Finds: Architecture: Early Chalcolithic Age: The latest settlement at Tülintepe belongs to Halafian Period. However; these layers could be observed in the soundings inside water table; thus could not be revealed in details. The main settlement of Early Chalcolithic Age is above these layers; at the level of the plain. The first settlement is located at the northern skirts of the mound and consists of structural units with many rooms that lie around open areas and passages. Hearth; oven; mudbrick platform; floors covered with reeds and bordered with rows of stones; and storages; are located east of the excavated area. To the west; there are rectangular structures with mudbrick walls; without stone foundations; which are thought to belong to four different houses. They seem to be gathered at the center; and again surrounded by open areas. To the north and south; same kind of rectangular structural units with many rooms are observed. There is a half closed courtyard; surrounded by spaces; in each unit. Structural units are observed to be built of partition walls. Dimensions of the spaces are different. The units consisted of an entrance; a large space that may be a living room; storage rooms; and oven spaces such as the sample with its whole plan revealed; which is located at the center of the excavated area. Hearths and ovens are the most common house fitments in Tülintepe; in houses; in a different and unique space outside the houses; or in the open areas. They are rectangular in plan; single or double; önlüklü-önlüksüz*; and abnormally abundant. Walls are plastered; while the floors are of pressed earth. Pillar stones; found on the floor; suggest a roof. At the next phase; the Early Chalcolithic settlement is represented by structures; which are observed to have similar settling arrangement and same structural characteristics. Structures of the lower phase were built according to the same principals but in different plans after destruction. Some walls and ovens were re-used during the construction of the new phases. Therefore; the two main settlement phases may be thought as being represented by continiously built structures in short-periods; not separate and built in long-periods. These rectangular structural units; grouped around the open areas and streets; have sub-phases; in which; there are activities such as additions and cancellations of the parts; and renovations of the floors. The settlement consists of pits; floors; hearths; and ovens at the east and west; around open areas/ courtyard; structural units built at each side of the streets; which are connected to courtyards; in east-west direction; perpendicular to this is another street in north-south direction; and finally continuous units in northwest-southeast direction at the west. According to the in situ finds; structures are observed to be functioning as houses; atelliers; or kitchens; they lack stone foundations; while mudbrick walls are existent. Wood is rarely used horizontally or vertically. There are thin and long; or small storage rooms near the large living rooms; containing hearths and ovens; with usually pressed earth or straw floors. Hearths and ovens are still common and variant; of which the floors are plastered with sherds or small stones. Some spaces have mudbrick sections; benches; niches; and honeycombs. Doors are existent between the rooms; in the units. Bastions; resembling pillars for support; are sometimes observed at the walls. During the renovation periods of the structures; additional spaces were built; some building elements were out of use; and sometimes only floor renovations were made. Although there are differences in structural units and phases; the Early Chalcolithic Age settlement of Tülintepe belongs to a single culture; and it is homogeneous. The upper Phase settlement of Early Chalcolithic Age is observed to be cut by a pit; extending like a ditch towards south and surrounding the western slope of the mound. It was named as Ubaid Pit or Ubaid Deposit due to the recovered sherds. The deposit is of thin seam; and consists of ash; clay; plant-temper; and silt [Esin 1976a:122-126; 129-132; Esin 1979a:116-117; Esin-Arsebük 1982:123-124]. Late Chalcolithic Age: The relations between the Early Chalcolithic Age and the Late Chalcolithic Age could not be totally understood; because the mound was flattened at the level of the plain. Late Chalcolithic Age settlement architecture; which is observed to be damaged by a EBA shaft at the center of the mound; at the southernmost of the excavated areas; is represented by two spaces. A rectangular planned oven structure with mudbrick walls; 1.5 m in diameter; is existent. It is thought to be used for smelting metal due to the finds recovered within the 0.20/0.35 m wide; rectangular structures with mudbrick walls. Three walls of the other space were preserved. Both of these spaces seem like workshops due to the dimensions and the finds [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:142]. Pottery: Ubaid pottery of dark matt paint decorated over light colored surface was found inside the Ubaid Pit/Deposit. Early Chalcolithic pottery is dark-faced burnished; red pasted; dark slipped; burnished; and heavy mica tempered. The group; recovered together with Halafian wares were dark-faced burnished. Among this group; decorations of human faces with emphasized eyes and noses; relief decorations with raised hands in sitting position; and decorations with dot and droplets over relief bands are interesting. The third ware group; in paint decorated vessels besides the bright painted Halafian and matt painted Ubaid sherds; is light colored; fine hard pasted. Decorations are geometrical lines made of dark reddish-brown or blackish brown over light colored slipped surface. Coarse ware is another group [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:141; Esin 1976a:124; 131-132]. Amuq Phase F type chaff-tempered and chaff-faced ware constitute the common pottery of Late Chacolithic Age. Dark reddish brown painted bands inside the rim or painted rhombs arranged in bands on the exterior of the rims are observed at some vessel samples. Impressed pointille decoration over matt brown painted band are observed on some pithos and jars with high necks. Conical small jar; similar to the Uruk red slipped wares of Mezopotomia; is interesting [Esin 1976a:120; Esin-Arsebük 1982:122]. Clay: A woman figurine was recovered from one of the northern spaces of the Early Chalcolithic Age settlement. It is seated with feet extended to the front. Hips are wide; breasts are conical and emphasized. Another woman figurine from the westernmost courtyard of the excavated area; abundant unfired sling stones were found altogether; which are observed to be placed carefully; from a small; closed space with well-plastered walls and floors; at the same area. Another woman figurine; observed to be broken; was found on the street floor; the head is conical; eyes are slanting; but chin or nose are not depicted. A baked clay human figurine head; animal figurines; spindle-whorls; and a handled spoon constitute the rest of clay finds [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:140-141; Esin 1976a:124; 132; Arsebük-Korfmann 1976:134-135]. Clay spindle-whorls were recovered around the Late Chalcolithic Age spaces. Chipped Stone: Obsidian is abundantly used as a raw material in the Early Chalcolithic Age chipped stone industry. Flintstone is rare compared to obsidian. Tools such as retouched flakes; blades and cores; perforators; arrowheads; scrapers; and sickles; a vessel made of obsidian; and an interesting assamblage; stone samples with microlithic characteristics; were recovered. The assamblage; consists of 847 perforators; hooks; and wastes. Perforators were made of flintstone; while hooks were made of obsidian. Although their functions are not exactly understood; similar samples were encountered in Halafian settlements; in the Near East [Arsebük 1974a:143-147;Esin 1976a:124]. Ground Stone: Grinding stones; burnishing stones; biley* stones; spindle-whorls; pestles; stone cortex; flat axe; and an assemblage of sling stones were recovered as well as grinding stone; pounders; flat pebble stones in the Early Chalcolithic Age [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:141; Esin 1976a:124; 132]. Beads; mace; and axe are among the Late Chalcolithic Age ground stone finds. Bone / Antler: Bone awls; pins; mekiks*; and spindle-whorls were found in Early Chalcolithic structures. In addition; a tooth of an animal is observed to be decorated. Bone awls and a hammer were found in Late Chalcolithic levels [Esin 1976a:132]. Metal: An oven was found in one of the Late Chalcolithic Age spaces; and metal ores; slags; a stone crucible; and a pin were recovered around the oven [Esin-Arsebük 1974b:142; Esin 1976b:221]. Human Remains: Infant burials were revealed in the Early Chalcolithic settlement; one of them belonging to a 3-4 month baby [Esin-Arsebük 1982:124]. Fauna: 95% of the animal remains belong to the domesticated animals. Cattle (Bos taurus); sheep (Ovis aries); goat (Capra hircus); pig (Sus domesticus); and dog (Canis familiaris) are the animals in order; of which; bones were abundant. Doe (Cervus elaphus maral) is the most hunted animal; followed by wild sheep (Ovis ammon); Bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus); wild pig (Sus scrofa); and roe (Capreolus capreolus). Bones of predatory animals such as brown-gray bear (Ursus arctos); fox (Vulpes vulpes); rabbit and beaver were found. Various kinds of birds and fresh water mussel are observed to be hunted and collected [Boessneck-von den Driesch 1976a:145-146; Esin1976a:133]. Flora: Grains such as wheat (Triticum diccoccum and Triticum cf. aestivum); black wheat; barley; lentil; and varios kinds of plants are observed to be consumed by Tülintepe community. Poplar and oak trees were found [Esin 1976a:133]. Other: Lower parts of the shells of fresh water mussels were retouched; suggesting that the shells were used for burnishing after they were eaten [Boessneck-von den Driesch 1976:146].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: As long as it is excavated; Tülintepe was inhabited during Halafian Period. However; it was not possible to excavate the Halafian settlement; though its existence is known; because it was inside the water table. Halafian Period is represented by the sherds recovered from the deep soundings. After this period; the settlement at Tülintepe continues in Halaf-Ubaid Transition Period. Characteristics of both cultures; various elements and influences on daily life are observed during this period. Settlement continues to exist in Ubaid; Post-Ubaid (Late Chalcolithic Age); and EBA. Unfortunately; the flattening of the mound at the level of the plain caused the remains of these periods to vanish; thus not be revealed properly. Various analyses were made to date the settlements of Tülintepe. According to the callibrated 14C dates; layers contemporary with Amuq C or Halafian Culture belong to earlier than the second half of the 6th Millennium BC; the layer contemporary with Amuq D belongs to the second half of the 6th Millennium BC; layers contemporary with Amuq E belong to the 5th Millennium BC; and the Late Chalcolithic Age layers contemporary with Amuq F dates to the 4th Millennium BC. Some of the 14C dates are as follow: 4214+-147 BC; 3780+-186 BC; 3414+-184 BC [Esin 1981a:162; Esin-Arsebük 1982:121; Özbakan 1981:96; 98-99; Dereli 1983:219-229; Yegingil 1983:253-258].


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