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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Yesilova |
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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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m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Izmir |
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District:
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Bornova |
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Village:
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Karacaoglan |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: The mound lies in Karacaoğlan quarter of Bornova District in Izmir Province. It locates nearby Manda Stream; east of Isikkent Campus; southwest of Bornova High School. |
| Geography and Environment: It is partly in the vicinity of Bornova District public area and partly in the land that belongs to Çimentas. It is known that the surrounding territory was covered with fertile vegetation and there were lots of water sources around at the time the mound was settled. Also the sea was 2 km inside at that period. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Yesilova Höyügü was discovered in 2003. Excavations started in 2005 by a team conducted by Z. Derin from Ege University Department of Archaeology in collaboration with Izmir Archaeology Museum. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The excavations started around the big hole formed after the soil removal made by municipality. After cleaning some of the rubble an investigative trench (L16b) opened at the section where the cultural layers can be seen and in this trench stratigraphy of the settlement is clearly determined. Besides this one; trenches L16a; K16d and the second investigative trench K16c were excavated. In order to uncover the architectural remains on wide areas and the northern extension of the settlement; trenches M17 and L21were opened. First results of the excavation exhibited that there are 3 cultural layers at the site. The surface of the mound is covered with alluvial soil approximately 1 m thick. There is a Neolithic Age settlement in Layer 3 which is 3-4 m thick and dated to 8000 BP. After this period; which is reported to be most period of the site; comes Chalcolithic Age settlement dated to 6000 BP. It is suggested that the site is abandoned after this period because of the flood caused by Manda Stream and the people living there moved to Bornova and Yassitepe mounds that are above the level of the stream. The pithos grave uncovered at the upper levels of the settlement suggested that the mound was used as a cemetery in EBA. Based on the 2013 studies, the stratigraphy of the mound as follows [Derin et al. 2015:452]: Level I A. Byzantine-Roman Period (10 BC-290 AD) B. Iron Age (1050 BC) C. Bronze Age (LBA, MBA, EBA) EBA has 7 building levels (a-h); (3020-2830 BC) Level II (Chalcolithic) Middle Chalcolithic has 2 building levels (a-b) (4340-4230 BC) Level III (Neolithic) [This level consists of 8 building levels so far, Building level 1 has 6 phases (a-f)] Building level 2-Neolithic III (6000-5730 BC) Building level 5-Neolithic II (6250-6060 BC) Building level 8-Neolithic I In 2014, the studies were carried out in the trial tench H 15 c in order to detect the levels in Yassitepe. In 2013, this trench was dug until the elevation of 15.60 and the elevation of 13.45 was reached this year. The building level IIB8 was determined between the elevations of 16.00-15.20. Then, it was dug until the elevation of 1.25 m in order to find any cultural level under the alluvion layer. Since no cultural layer could be determined, it is possible to say that the bedrock was reached. The current stratigraphy of the area as follows: Area VI Level I: Roma Level II: BA A. MBA B. EBA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Level III: Chalcolithic 1, 2 [Derin 2016:165;167]. The studies conducted in 2015 caused some changes to the stratigraphy of Yesilova Mound. Especially Bronze Age finds had a role in these changes. The renewed stratigraphy as it follows: Level I: Roman Period (10 BC-290 AD) Level II: Bronze Age A. Middle Bronze Age B. Early Bronze Age Level III: Chalcolithic 1 and 2 (4340-4230 BC) HIATUS Level IV: Neolithic 1. a, b, c, d, e, fÉ 2. Neolithic III (6000-5730 BC) 3. 4. 5. Neolithic II (6250-6060 BC) 6. 7. (6490-6250 BC) 8. Neolithic I [Derin et al. 2017:145]. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: There are approximately 15 thousand amorphous potsherds collected. There are fragments of cooking and storage pots and ladles and spoons among these potsherds. The 2008 campaign yielded restricted amount of Chalcolithic material. A majority of pottery of this layer are mainly represented by dark-faced undecorated vessels. Most of them are colored in grey, sometimes in brown and brownish red, some have traces of burnishing process [Derin 2010:478]. During the 2011 studies, a large amount of potsherds were found in front of the north section of the plan square of JI1 in the Area IIa. Apart form these; Chalcolithic potsherds were recovered for the first time in Yassitepe in the Area VI. The potsherds recovered as mixed from the EBA levels are generally in average quality. The paste is grit tempered and they are well and medium fired. The surfaces are brown and grey colored, plain or burnished. Large amount of them comprised of bowls with basket handle and mushroom-shaped handles [Derin-Caymaz 2013:125]. Chipped Stone: Flintstone blades; perforators and scraping tools were found. There were also arrowheads and knifes among the finds. Ground Stone: Marble and limestone wares were found. Bone/Antler: A bone idol and bone tools used for leather processing were found. Animal Remains: There were wild cattle; pig and deer bones found. Other: Mussel and snail shells were found. There were also necklaces made of shells and stones were collected. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The Neolithic layers uncovered in Yesilova Höyügü keep the traces of the oldest settlement in Izmir. Studies on dating of the finds are still being continued. Based on the excavations in 2008, the Neolithic Period covering layers 1 to 8 at a depth of 4 m under the surface is dated to 6500 BC and earlier. The Neolithic people probably abandoned the site between 5800-5700 BC due to natural reasons. A short-period settlement was founded at the level II approximately after 1000 years during the Chalcolithic Age by a new group of outlanders. It appears that part of the mound had been used as an EBA cemetery after it was completely abandoned following the Chalcolithic Age [Derin 2010:476-477]. |
