|
©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yarikkaya |
|
|
For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
|
Type:
|
Upland Settlement |
|
Altitude:
|
1010 m |
|
Region:
|
Central Anatolia |
|
Province:
|
Çorum |
|
District:
|
Bogazkale |
|
Village:
|
Merkez |
|
Investigation Method:
|
Excavation |
|
Period:
|
Late |
|
|
|
  |
|
| Location: The site is located on a calcareous rocky elevation; bearing the same name; lying southwest of the city of Çorum; southeast of Sungurlu; in between the villages of Bogazköy and Emirler Köyü; 1.6 km northeast of the village of Bogazkale; 3 km southeast of the village of Yekbas; and 2 km north of Yazilikaya. |
| Geography and Environment: The location called Yarikkaya is on the natural calcareous hills located high on the eastern slopes of a valley. A steep terrace lies below; descending to the plain. The location has been named thus; since the environs have the wavy outlook of much fragmented lands. In some publications it has been misspelled as Yarikaya. The cultural deposit is approximately 2 m thick. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: After preliminary surveys in 1966; excavations were conducted both in the plateau over the terrace and on the southern slopes. |
| Stratigraphy: The excavations conducted by H.Hauptmann exposed 5 layers in the plateau. Haupmann dates the 4th-5th Levels to Late Chalcolithic levels of Alişar; regarding the pottery; and the 1st-3rd Levels to EBA 1 a. The architectural structure with stone foundations has been well-preserved as a result of conflagration and dates back to a later period. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: In the 2nd Level; there are remains that may belong to dwellings. A series of rectangular structures that are probably barns or granaries have been built among rectangular houses and the whole is encirclied with an enclosure wall; thus constructing a farm complex with open courts. The pise walls are supported with wooden posts. In the 3rd Level; although the intensity of the structures lessens; the settlement plan is the same with the 2nd Level except for the orientation of the parts. Platforms; ovens; and fireplaces out of clay constitute the house fitments. 4th Level: There are four 6 m long independent pise structures arranged in a row. Some have stone foundations. Their orientation is slightly different from those in the higher levels. The floors; slightly below ground level are made out of gray clay on a thick pebbles pavement. The bread-oven in southeast corner and the platform along the north wall are the fitments. It is assumed that the buildings were single storeyed and the roofs sometimes supported by central wooden pillars were built up with wooden frames. 5th Level: This level lies on virgin soil; which is hard and barren. No architectural remain; but a pit encircled by a mudbrick wall; could be recovered. Animal bones and numerous pieces of charcoal were found in this pit; but the function of the pit could not be understood [Hauptmann 1969:68]. Pottery: In all levels of Yarıkkaya; standard sherds of more or less the same ware are found. They are generally coarse wares for casual use. The majority is the burnished ware that is red-coated on the interior and black-coated on the exterior surface. Others are beige-gray-red coated ware and yellowish coated ware. High pedestal bowls are found in the house on the southern slope. In the 1st and 2nd Levels; dark red ware appears together with the other ware groups. S-profile jars constitute the most significant form in the lower levels. There are also sherds with knobs and relief decoration. In the higher levels; the forms tend to become biconical. Besides the plain vessels; there are also white incrusted or incised examples. Prefered decoration motives are rhombi; spirals and snail shell. Although little; parallels with Büyük Güllücek may be thought to exist. On virgin soil in the plateau; sherds in gray ware of Büyükkaya are found. These are probably the earliest ceramics of the settlement. Ground stone: Burnished alabaster bracelets are found. Human remains: Infant and adult burials in pithoi; in hocker position; were recovered below the floors of the houses on the plateau. Burial gifts are not frequent. Some burials include bracelets made out of bronze plaques. Other: There are bone tools and obsidian finds about which nothing is published. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The gray ware in the lowest level of the settlement; above virgin soil; are dated to the Chalcolithic Age; by Hauptmann. 5th and 4th Levels are claimed contemporary with Alişar 19-15 M [Hauptmann 1969:69]. The southern slope finds are contemporary with Alişar 14-12 M. Parzinger compares Levels 5-1 of the plateau with Karanovo IV-V and the settlement on the southern slope with Karanovo VI [Parzinger 1993:Fig.9]. |
