©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Üçagizli Magarasi

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Üçağızlı Mağarası
Type:
 Cave
Altitude:
 20 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Hatay
District:
 Yayladagi
Village:
 Meydan
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 OP ÜP EP

     

Location: The cave is located at Yayladagi district, 1 km south of Meydan Quarter, east-southeast of Senköy Quarter, south of Samandag district, southwest of Hatay (Merkez). The cave is at approximately 10 km south of Asi River, at the foothills of Al Ansariye Mountain, at the northeastern slope of Kel Mountains.
Geography and Environment: The cave is a natural cavity carved into crustaceous limestone. It is 18 m above sea-level. The mouth of this cavity faces southwest and it consists of three sections in northeast; southwest and southeast directions. The cave interior is comprised of a 200 square meter living area. Its height has a variation between 4.5-5 m and 2.5 m. The anthrophogenic sediment on the cave walls is approximately 2 m thick. There are fresh water springs nearby. As can be seen on a 1:100.000 scaled map; especially the Meydan Köy region is rich in caves and rock-shelters.
History:
Research and Excavation: The first excavations in Üçagizli were carried out under the direction of Angela Minzoni-Deroche in 1989-91[Güleç et al. 1998:251]. Later in 1996-97; E. Güleç has started a research project in Samandagi including the area from Çevlik to Meydan Village. In 1997 a test excavation was carried out during this project in this cave and this research was followed by a second excavation in 1998 under the direction of Hatay Museum and the scientific consultancy of E. Güleç [Güleç-Dinçer 2000:37]. The first year; two trenches totaling 9 square-meters were opened; but excavations could not get beyond 50 cm below the surface. Artifacts were systematically collected from three sedimentologically distinct surfaces. Many chipped stone tools; bones; shells were found. One shell sample was dated to 32.000 BP. During the second excavations (Dinçer and Güleç); it was reported that the Upper Palaeolithic consists of two phases as Early Upper Palaeolithic and Late Upper Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic deposits were also encountered [Dinçer et al. 2001:1]. The Epi-Palaeolithic was encountered in two areas; one in the side room located in the south end of the cave (Locus 1) and the other in the north. The Early Upper Palaeolithic deposits were found in the northeastern section of the cave and in the excavation area of Minzoni-Deroche. According to the seashells; the cave is dated back to 32-35 thousand years ago. The oldest deposits encountered in the cave belong to the premise Upper Palaeolithic and the beginning of it is dated 42-42 thousand years [Kuhn et al.1999a] [Dinçer et al. 2001]. 2009 season of the excavations carried out by a team led by Erksin Güleç is held between 15.07.2009 and 21.08.2009. As usual 2009 excavation activities have started after cleaning up all trenches in the cave and implementing the grid system on the trenches. Per the plan the researches are concentrated on trenches (1 by 1) in the North section of the cave. The excavation work is carried out in plan squares (50 cm each) and through the layers. This year all trenches are recorded based on the coordinate system with the help of a total station device. Thus the geographical location of all findings and their distribution and density within the cave are determined and it was possible to process these data in a healthier, more detailed manner through various studies. These findings present sufficient information that will help understanding the behaviors of its inhabitants better in the future years. This year the trenches are excavated for the purpose of deepening Ahmarian layers which were already started before. Many blades, flakes, end scrapers, cores and heads in various types and sizes, sea and land mollusk shells used for nutrition and ornaments are found this excavation season as well. And among the other findings captured this year are pieces of bones, horns, and teeth of roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, bezoar goats, wild cattle and wild boars, as well as of carnivores and pesticides [Güleç et al. 2011: 42-43].
Stratigraphy: The stratigraphy of Üçagizli Cave is based on the ancient human activities. In the deposits namely B, C, E, G and I (in descending order), terra rosa is dominant. However, these deposits also contain remains of ash and charcoal, stone tool fragments, shell and bones. The wastes caused by human activity are found in high density in Level B1-B3, D, F, Fa-Fc, H and H1-H3. The deposits B to G were defined as Ahmarian levels. The levels between F and H and the upper phases of Level I belong to the Precessor Upper Palaeolithic Period [http://www.ucagizli.com/stratigrafi-ve-jeoloji.html, 17.2.16, 13:58].
Small Finds: The techniques used in tool production as determined by the cores and the reworked fragments resemble the Aurignacien industry of the Levant. Minzoni-Deroche compares the Aurignacien type tools in Üçagizli Cave to Stratum IV of the cave site of Antelias on the Lebanese shore. She also notes that the chipped stone technology at this site resembles the Çevlik Caves; also in the Antakya province. The finds include backed blades and many blades with irregular cross sections. Thin blades; retouched and non-retouched blades; end scrapers; borers and burins have also been found. Minzoni-Deroche believes that the Upper Palaeolithic peoples that inhabited the cave used the flint nodules from the Pliocene beach north of the cave as the raw material for their flint tools. Most of the cores are small in size. The shells found in the cave indicate that these peoples supplied at least a portion of their subsistence from the sea. Minzoni-Deroche compares the Aurignacien tools of Üçagizli Cave to the IV. Layer lithic industry of the Antelias Cave in Lebanon coast. Thin blades were encountered. The tool group consists of blades with or without retouch; point scarpers; perforators; chisels and backed blades. According to Minzoni-Deroche; with all of these characteristics Üçagizli and the Çevik Caves in Antakya should be considered within the Levant culture [Minzoni-Deroche 1992a; 1992b; 1993]. In the Epipalaeolithic deposits; encountered during the second excavations under the scientific consultancy of E. Güleç; the chipped stone industry is mainly connected to microlith tradition. Microgravets were abundant and backed blades and blade cores were also seen. There is a variety in the animal remains; micro and macro mammal species; birds; fish bones and shelled sea animals were encountered. The seashells were used as ornament goods [Dinçer et al. 2001: 1-2]. The Upper Palaeolithic Period is divided into two phases as Early Upper Palaeolithic and Late Upper Palaeolithic. An important find dating to the Early Upper Palaeolithic is an area covered with ashes and a single range of stones; which can be interpreted as a hearth and a wall. The chipped stone tool industry is represented by scarpers; retouched blades; chisels and prismatic cores. The bone industry finds are points; awls; hammers and anvils. It was determined that the pierced seashells were used as ornament goods. The fauna of Early Upper Palaeolithic Period consists of deer; goat and roe deer indicates a humid environment in general. And the seashells; which were very abundant point out a higher level than the present level. An interesting find from the layers of this period is a milk tooth; which is suggested to belong to a person who lived in the first phases of the Early Upper Palaeolithic. This find is also important when considered that it is the only human remain encountered after the premolar found in the previous years [Dinçer et al. 2001: 2- 3]. The Upper Palaeolithic sequence was divided into nine main layers based on the macroscopic characteristics of the sediments. The principal geogenic component is terra rosa clay. The main differences between the layers are in the quantity of anthropogenic materials. A series of AMS radiocarbon dates have shown that this sequence spans a period of at least 12-13.000 years; from ca. 28.000 to 41.000 (uncalibrated) BP. The presence of upsilon blades; typical of bi-directional blade production; was determined in the uppermost levels (B; B1-B3). Typologically; these assemblages are dominated by endscrapers; as well as retouched and pointed blades. Burins are very scarce. The great majority of flint is represented by cores; unmodified flakes; and debris. Also a very large sample of stone tools; a few bone artifacts were found. The extensive ornament assemblage consists of small beads or pendants made from modified marine shells. More than 1000 shell ornaments were recovered and a variety of Mediterranean species were used. The retouched tool assemblage of the lower layers (F; G; H) was also dominated by endscrapers. The other common tool forms are simple retouched flakes and blades. A few burins and pointed blades were also encountered. Use of raw materials is different in the lower levels. This difference may represent a different kind of lithic provisioning strategy than prevailed in the more recent levels. The Initial Upper Palaeolithic assemblages of these layers have features usually associated with both Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. The great majority of retouched tools are typical Upper Palaeolithic types; such as endscrapers and burins. In contrast with the tool forms; which are predominantly Upper Palaeolithic in nature; the technology for making tools shows a combination of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. The lower layers have also yielded shell beads. The pierced shells from layer H are among the earliest indisputable personal ornaments in the world. They are dated to between 39.000 and 41000 radiocarbon years ago [Güleç et al. 2003:475]. The Upper Palaeolithic faunal remains display significant changes in foraging practices. An increasing dietary diversity was observed. In the early levels; large terrestrial game was the most important source of animal protein. It included tortoises; hares; birds; and marine shellfish. In layers F; G and H; wild goat (Capra aegagrus) was the dominant game animal hunted. In layers E; D; C; most of the faunal remains come from three species of deer (Dama; Capreolus; and Cervus). In layers B and B1-B4 the roe deer (Capreolus) becomes the most common species. During the Epipalaeolithic; Capra is the dominant species [Güleç et al. 2003:477;478]. In 2001; the sample of lithics and fauna from layer I was enlarged. It was determined that this layer contains sparse debris of the Middle Palaeolithic. The stone artifacts were characterized by discoid production. This technology is very different from the Upper Palaeolithic layers. The bones are also in a different condition. During the 2003 excavations three teeth; presumably belonging to the humans inhabited the cave; were found. Bone and tooth remains of red deer; roe deer; wild goat; bear; ox and pig; which are suggested to be hunted by the inhabitants for food; and remains of fish and sea shells were encountered. In addition; a large quantity of flint tools resembling the finds of the previous years were also recovered. One of the richest assemblages of this season is represented by 382 ornaments. These artifacts; collected from the Upper Palaeolithic deposit; consist of beads or pendants made of small sea or freshwater mollusk. Many finds were unearthed inside the B1-B3 levels during the excavations in 2006 which revealed important clues on human activities. Early Upper Palaeolithic period finds were unearthed inside these layers which were dated to the Ahmarian period. The expansion work continued inside the lower Pre Upper Palaeolithic layers and several finds were unearthed. Among the excavation finds unveiled there are objects that belonged to the humans that used the cave as a shelter; such as; three human tooth; many flakes; a blade; several kinds of tips; end scrapers; side scrapers; and many cores. Among the finds there are bones of the animals which were used by the humans both for nutrition and adornment; that suggest a very rich fauna; such as shell remains of marine and land mollusks; bones of bezoar goat; fallow deer; red deer; roe deer; gaur; grizzly bear; weasel; wildcat; birds and fish of different sizes; hare and tortoise[http://www.ttk.org.tr/index.php?Page=Sayfa&No=194; 2.6.2008; 12.20]. The studies intensified particularly on the trenches that are located on the north part of the cave in 2007. Among the excavation finds the most important ones are the fragments of skulls and upper chins and 3 pieces of isolated teeth of the humans which used the cave for shelter during the Upper Palaeolithic period. In addition to these; many flakes; blades; various types of tips; side and end scrapers; cores in various sizes; bones of the animals which were used by the humans both for nutrition and adornment; such as shell remains of marine and land mollusks were unearthed. Among other excavation finds there are other bone and tooth fragments of animals hunted and consumed by the humans such as bezoar goat; fallow deer; red deer; roe deer; gaur; wild boar; fox; weasel; tortoise; and rodents. On the other hand inside the Üçagizli EBA where the soundings are performed Levallois and Mousterian tips and side scrapers and Mid Palaeolithic type material are found [http://www.ttk.org.tr/index.php?Page=Sayfa&No=194; 2.6.2008; 12.20] Among the finds there are bones of the animals which were used by the humans both for nutrition and adornment; that suggest a very rich fauna; such as shell remains of marine and land mollusks; bones of bezoar goat; fallow deer; red deer; roe deer and hedgehog [http://www.ttk.org.tr/index.php?Page=Sayfa&No=194; 2.6.2008; 12.20]. The palaeontologically most important finds of Üçagizli Cave excavation are the tooth remains of the human beings that lived in the cave during Palaeolithic Age. 14 human teeth were found during the excavations in addition to maksilla and skull fragment. It was dated to circa between 29th-41th Millennia [Güleç et al. 2009:239]. During the survey performed by E. Güleç et al. in 2008 for the identification of material sources of stone tools, 10-30 cm silex bulbs were found inside the carbonate sediments on the terraces southeast of Sebenoba Village on the road to Yayladagi. These were frequently used in the Merdivenli and Tiklali Caves in Çevlik, in Üçagizli II Cave and the antecedent Palaeolithic levels of Üçagizli Cave [Güleç et al. 2010: 366]. During the survey performed by E. Güleç et al. in 2008 for the identification of material sources of stone tools, the survey near Ayisigi yielded silex sources on the terraces at the entrance of the village. The silex rocks are in general 80-10 cm, in dark colors (gray, brown and black), mat or half-transparent, and surrounded with white carbonate. The sources are usually inside the carbonate sediments and on ploughed fields. Terraces are rich in terms of finds. The silex stones which are of very good quality are fewer in the antecedent Upper Palaeolithic levels, and were used very little in the Early Upper Palaeolithic levels [Güleç et al. 2010:367]. Various Early Upper Palaeolithic finds were revealed inside Ahmarian Level which yielded important finds during 2008 excavations, suggesting human behavior of the period. Deepening inside lower levels of pre- Upper Palaeolithic Levels and several finds were yielded. Approximately 3 m high Upper Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic period sediments were destroyed through erosions after the cave ceiling collapsed. The 4 m high levels of pre- Upper and Early Upper Palaeolithic Levels which were protected from erosion and the Epipalaeolithic remains protected from erosion were researched. Üçagizli sediments consist of red clay (terra rosa) that contains bones, stone tools, sea shells and cinder. The cave has a regular stratigraphy. Ahmarian culture at levels B-B4 and C, consist of primantic blade technology characterized by soft hammers or indirect strikes. This assemblage consists of a small amount of burins and blades with a rich variety of tips, touched tools and front scrapers. The pre-Upper Palaeolithic stone tool assemblage found inside F, G and H levels of the cave is observed as a combination of Upper and Middle Palaeolithic industries. Most of the touched stone tools found in these layers for example the front scrapers and burins show typical Upper Palaeolithic stone tool characteristics. The lowest level I of the cave contains a small amount of material. The chanfrein or chamfered specimens found in this level are similar to those found at settlements such as Ksar Akil, Antelias and Huah Fteah in North Sina. This phenomenon is particularly significant as it shows that Üçagizli and these caves contain similar findings. Contrary to the tool forms which dominate at Upper Palaeolithic Level the technology used by Üçagizli pre- Upper Palaeolithic people for the making of the blades and flakes contains both the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic characteristics. Many cores, flakes and blades were made using a variation of Levallois method identified as classical Mousterian. The flakes and blades have large butts, they are wide and flat. More than half of the tools from F, G and H levels are multifaceted or contain double surfaces [Güleç et al. 2010:123-125]. Animal Remains: Shell remains of land and marine animals which were used for ornamentation by the people of relevant periods, wild goat, fallow deer, red deer, roe deer, gaur, wild boar, grizzly bear, weasel, wild cat, birds and fishes of various sizes, hare, turtles are among 2008 excavation finds and reflect a rich faunal variety [Güleç et al. 2010:127]. Excavation activities are carried out by E. Güleç and team in 2009 in Layers B1B4 and C of Early Ahmarian and Layers D and E which show transition characteristics to Early Ahmarian Culture. Intense amount of blades and bladelets found which is characteristic for Ahmarian Industry. This industry is defined with the usage of prismatic blade technique characterized with indirect clippings. A few burins and many end scrapers are found in the industry. Tool industry of Layers D and E which is known from Üçagizli Cave is similar to early Ahmarian however the thicknesses and butt shapes are different. The butt shapes are mostly faceted or flat type. And techniques previously known such as Levalloisian blade technique are replaced in this period with a semi-prismatic/not completely prismatic technique which is characterized by direct and indirect clipping to the core. The deployment of this technique in Ahmarian Culture is slightly different [Güleç et al. 2011: 44]. The excavation activities are carried out on the Northwest walls of the cave in 2009. Bottoms of cave walls are selected as burial grounds Pleistocene People. Therefore the researchers are extending the trenches opened in previous years between the center and sides -for stratigraphic analysis and aging purposes. Human remains encountered during these activities seem to justify this hypothesis [Güleç et al. 2011: 44]. The 2010 studies were concentrated on Ahmarian layers of the trenches being excavated. Besides in situ finds, flints and bones were also found. In Layer D consisting of gray ash layers and Layer E consisting of dark red colored soil; especially in the plan squares which are close to the walls; stone tolls, animal bones and fragments of shells were recovered in high density. Prismatic blades and bladelet cores and end scrapers, a large amount of animal bone and shells belonging to marine mollusks were found in these areas. The fauna of this layer of the cave is represented by deer, wild cattle, wild goat, wild boar, small carnivores and micro mammals. On the north-northwest wall, the newly excavated trenches are covered with dark red colored embankment with a depth of 1 m. Although finds were found in small quantity in these layers; micro blades, blades and cores, fragments of tooth, jaw, long bones and horns belonging to deer species were discovered. Also, a human premolar tooth was found here. These layers are dated to Epipalaeolithic-Early Upper Palaeolithic [Güleç et al. 2012:210-211]. The 2011 studies mostly concentrated on Ahmarian layers. Flint and bone finds were collected as well as in situ ones. Among the stone tools, there are end scrapers in various types, points made on the blades and retouched blades. Hammers which were used for making stone tools and grinding stones used for working and breaking the animal bones were found. There are a lot of jaw and tooth fragments, long bone pieces, sea and land mollusk shells among the faunal remains. Deer species, bezoar goats, wild cattle, small carnivores and a great number of micro mammals represent the faunal remains of this layer. The trenches, which were started to excavate on the north-northwest wall of the cave, are covered with dark red colored fill with a thickness of 1 m. A small number of finds were found and among these finds, there are microbladelets, blades and cores, fragments of tooth, jaw, long bone belonging to various animals and micro mammal remains. The 2012 studies concentrated in Trench C, D, E and F in the west section of the cave and Trench -A and -B inside the cave. During the studies, a series of wall that was irregularly placed were exposed in Trench E3. Together with the remains found in 2012, the number of the human remains reaches up to 20. The chipped stone tools recovered in 2012 consist of blade and bladelets that are the typical tools for the Ahmarian industry of Level C. In addition to this, end scrapers, retouched blades and points were found. Although Level D bears transition characteristics, it is placed in Ahmarian industry. Among the stone tools recovered from Level D, there are blades flaked from prismatic blade cores. The tools belonging to this level differ from Ahmarian industry with the differences of knapping technique. In this level, the direct percussion and pressure technique were used together. The Ahmarian culture, on the other hand, is characterized by the pressure technique. The illicit digging area in the north edge of the cave yielded Levallois points, blades and flakes, Mousterian points and unipolar Levallois cores belonging to the Early Upper Palaeolithic. Among the chipped stone tools, there are blades, bladelets, unipolar or bipolar protoprismatic blade cores belonging to the Early Ahmarian industry. The fauna of Üçagizli comprises wild goat, roe deer, fallow deer, red deer, wild cattle, wild boar, fox, bear, tortoise and hare. Shells and fish remains were found as well. In 2012, 500 animal bones in total were recovered [Güleç et al. 2014]. In 2013, the excavations were carried out in the trenches near the west and north walls of the cave. It was seen that Trench F and E located in the western section of the cave are covered with a dark red and brown colored soil. Along with the in situ finds, flints and bones were found in the fill as well. Among the stone tools, there are side and end scrapers in various types, points on blades, retouched and nonretouched blades, tools and cores in various sizes and types. In addition, hammers used for producing stone tools and grinding stones used for working and chopping animal bones were found. Faunal remains consist of jaw, teeth and long bones and shells belonging to sea and land mollusk. The mollusks collected from the shores by the inhabitants of Üçagizli were used for nutrition and ornamentation. Small sized Nassarius gibbosula (carnivore) and Columbella rustica (herbivorous) used for ornamentation were found in high density. These mollusks were pierced and formed as beads. Beads are similar to each other in terms of shape and size. Beads are found intact and there are traces caused by waves. This situation indicates that these beads were collected from the shores. The sea shells used for nutrition belong to large herbivorous gastropods, Patella and Monodonta species. Land snails were used as well. In Trench E4, human canine tooth belonging to Upper Palaeolithic was found. Another human canine tooth was recovered from Trench E2. In Trench -B3, on the other hand, a molar tooth belonging to human were exposed [Güleç et al. 2015]. The 2014 studies concentrated on the transition leves between Ahmarian and Epipalaeolithic cultures and Level F of Epipalaeolithic. The chipped stone finds and faunal remains show no difference from the ones found in 2013. The inhabitants produced beads from the marine shells collected from the shores. The sizes and the forms of the beads are similar. The oldest marine shell beads are known from 75,000 year-old Taforalt Cave (Morocco) and 82,000 year-old Blombos Cave (South Africa). The data obtained from Ksar Akil and Üçagizli Cave shows that the first modern humans, who migrated from Africa to West Asia, left many traces in those regions [Güleç et al 2016: 394].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The analysis based on the fauna during 2007 researches suggested that the Early Ahmarian fauna climate was rather humid at and around Üçagizli. The antecedent Upper Palaeolithic fauna on the other hand reflected a dryer and cooler climate. The jewelry made of sea shells were abundantly found during Üçagizli Cave excavations and they are a sign that the primary moderns that immigrated from East Africa to West Asia left intense marks in that region. None of the localities that contain jewelry in Levnat region are as rich as Üçagizli [Güleç et al. 2009:237]. During the survey performed by E. Güleç et al. in 2008 for the evaluation of provisioned material for the making of stone tools it was found that the material resources on the terraces in the southeast of Serenoba village on Yayladagi road were particularly preferred by Middle Palaeolithic people. This reveals important data on the behavior of Palaeolithic people. It particularly shows that the Middle Palaeolithic people encompassed a large area as their environment [Güleç et al. 2010: 366-367]. The most important palaeoanthropological finds of Üçagizli cave are the skeleton remains that belonged to Palaeolithic period people. The amount of finds dated to this period in Anatolia is very few. The finds in this cave of which their dates were ascertained are particularly important since these reflect the human evolution experienced by Anatolian people of the period and their morphological structure. The finds found inside Üçagizli cave were dated approximately 29-41 thousand years and these give very important information on the people living in that period [Güleç et al. 2010:126]. Some marine and river shell animals found inside Üçagizli cave finds are important clues in terms of reflecting the social structure of the period. These remains consist of Columbella, Nassarius (pre- Upper Palaeolithic and Ahmarian) and Dentalium (Epipalaeolithic period) shell animals. The existence of such finds as remains of Palaeolithic Age decorations made of beads (seashells) saw to it that the modern humans anatomically; (1) had behavioral and mental evolution improvements, (2) had increased visual communications in their social structures, (3) their individual awareness improved [Güleç et al. 2010:127]. During the activities carried out by E. Güleç and team in 2009 in Üçagizli Cave it is determined that the bases of cave walls are used for trash collection by the people of the period. Thrown-away pieces of stone tools, bones and sea shells are especially intense on these fields, and this fact suggests that the people of that period was sweeping their thrown-away or excess material to the sides for being able to use the center of the floor. No fixed furnace remains are found in the excavated parts of Early Ahmarian Culture suggesting that the people of the period were possibly creating their furnaces in the open air. With the help of the hints gathered in these researches it becomes possible to understand the in-cave activities of these people to a degree [Güleç et al. 2011: 45].


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