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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Pinarbasi |
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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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Rock Shelter and Flat Settlement |
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Altitude:
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1085 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Karaman |
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District:
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Merkez |
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Village:
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Ortaoba |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: This site lies 39 km; as the crow flies; north-northwest of the city of Karaman and between 5 and 5.5 km northwest of the village of Süleymanhaci and approximately 7 km north-northeast of village of Ortaoba. |
| Geography and Environment: The rock-shelter site lies north of the city of Karaman; in the district of Pinarbasi; on the northwestern extension of limestone rock outcrop Mount Bozdag; the northwestern part of 2;271 m high Mount Karadag. Artifacts were found in the rock-shelters located at the lower parts of these limestone cliffs and in the flat area in front of the rock-shelters in front of Eski Hotamis Lake; now dried. The Neolithic inhabitants of this area must have chosen this site for its attractive location by a lake and two springs. They must have used the natural resources in this area; hunted the wild animals and used the wild grains. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Surface surveys were conducted in this area after the Çatalhöyük Neolithic excavations resumed in 1993. Pinarbasi was discovered during one of these surveys which was conducted in the east part of the site as French and Hillman had suggested. Excavations at this site began in 1994 under the direction of T. Watkins and the supervision of the University of Edinburgh and the Karaman Museum [Watkins 1995a:9-11]. Core samples were collected from Süleymanhaci Lake close to the rock-shelters in order to determine the ecological situation of the Pinarbasi Region from 11;000-5;000 BC [Roberts 1996:376-377]. Excavation continued in 2003 with the participation of D. Baird in order to ascertain the data of 9th millennium BC settlement and to establish a little more about the nature and date of the EBA and Roman-Byzantine occupations on the site [Baird 2003]. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: Excavations in the Pinarbasi Region were conducted in two areas: Area A/Open Air Site: Initial excavations determined that the earliest three layers of the nine discovered in total are Early Neolithic. Area B/Rock Shelters: A total of seven stratigraphic layers were found in the excavations conducted in Area B in 1994 and 1995. The upper layers of this cultural material deposit; which had been partially destroyed by treasure hunters; have been dated to the fifth and fourth millennia BC. The lower layers; on the other hand; have been assigned to the Late Neolithic Period. During 2003 season excavation two new areas C and D were also excavated as well as A and B. Area C/Open Air Site: There are disturbed traces of rectilinear buildings probably belonging to the Roman- Byzantine phase of occupation overlying Early Bronze levels in Areas A and C. Area D/Open Air Site: Architectural remains and potsherds belonging to EBA were uncovered. |
| Small Finds: 2003 season excavation cleared that the EBA settlement was one of the mot extensive at the site running from close to the rock shelter area across the small mound to the west. Excavations revealed structures including a multi-roomed rectilinear structure in Area A. A stone wall foundation ran north-south across the western edge of that trench. Plaster surfaces were associated with this wall to its west and east. The eastern room was sub-divided by a mud brick partition wall after a significant period of occupation. Associated with the construction of this building was a cist grave containing two young children and associated pottery. The pithos burial excavated in 1994 post-dated the plaster floor of the eastern room; but seemed to respect the north-south wall foundation so may well have been buried when the building was still standing. In Area D pits including a bell shaped storage pit belonged to early phases of the Early Bronze Age occupation. In addition there were several surfaces overlain by a considerably buildup of mud brick debris. Ceramics are dealing with a single phase of the EBA (probably an early phase) [Baird 2003]. |
| Remains: |
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