©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Yesilova

For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...

maps

For photographs please click on the photo...

Yeşilova
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 m
Region:
 Aegean
Province:
 Izmir
District:
 Bornova
Village:
 Karacaoglan
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:

     

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: It is suggested that the site is abandoned after a long period settlement in Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages 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. There were found EBA ware fragments and a bronze axe. The Area VI is located about 300 m north of the center of Yesilova Mound and situated 1 m down the area [Derin-Caymaz 2014:422]. Architecture: In 2011, the excavation studies carried out in Yassitepe in the excavation area designated as VI shows that the existence of EBA settlement in this area. The building level of EBA I comprised of at least two phases. During the studies conducting in the plan squares of I14 and I15, the long houses were exposed. The stone walls of these houses measures more than 12 m in length and the rooms extending in the northeast-southwest direction are 4.30 m and 4.70 m in width. The rooms with common walls are entered through the doors with a width of 0.80 m from the front room on the northeast side. The walls of the structures are in the form of S. Therefore, it is observed that the settlement went through an earthquake in the beginning of EBA and the structures have been damaged. The fireplaces were found in the rooms numbered 1 and 2 and a tandoor was exposed in the room numbered 3. Also, a pithos was recovered at the entrance of the room 3. The thickness of the walls of the rooms ranges from 0.50 m to 0.65 m [Derin-Caymaz 2013:123]. In 2012 campaign, remains of stone foundation belonging to long houses located side by side were exposed just 5 cm below the surface. It was observed that the megaron-like structures extending in the northeast-southwest direction, which were exposed in the 2011 campaign, spread to the west. 7 rooms in total have been exposed so far. It was seen that the stone walls of these rooms are shared. Storage areas were found inside the rooms. In these pots comprising of pithos-like large jars, liquid was stored. The smaller ones were used to store clams [Derin-Caymaz 2014:422]. During the studies carried out in the plan aquare H17 of Area IV, Level IC3a was reached. This level yielded potsherds showing EBA I characteristics. A stone wall consisting of two rows of stone was exposed in the east of the west section of the excavated plan square. The wall measures 4.80 m in length and 30-35 m cm in width. It extends from the east end to the south. It is revealed that the room was built in the same direction (northeast-southwest) with the ones (Room 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) found in the previous seasons. In the plan square H18, a wall with three rows of stone extending parallel to the east section was exposed. This wall belongs to Room 9. To the south end of this wall, a wall with two rows of stone belonging to the upper phase was unearthed. A horseshoe shaped tandoor or hearth was found in the west of this large stone wall. There are three pithoi aligned side by side in the west of the wall belonging to Room 9. In the eastern half of the "b" square of the trench, a wall extending in the north-south direction was found. This wall measures 2.40 m in length. It extends from the north edge to the west and continues 1.78 m. It was built with large stones. It is believed that this room belongs to the upper phase. In the plan square H15d, remains of stone walls extending in the east-west direction were exposed [Derin et al. 2015]. The 2015 studies were conducted in Trench H15, H14, G15, G15, I16 and H16 in order to determine the settlement layout of Level IIB1 and 2 dated to EBA in Area VI (Yassitepe). The adjacent buildings called "long house" showing the characteristics of traditional architecture style of EBA Western Anatolia, and the similar of which is seen in Troia Ib, Besik-Yassi Tepe, Liman Tepe, Bakla Tepe and in the Eastern Aegean islands such as Poliochni, Thermi and Heraion were exposed in the previous seasons. This year, the western sections of these houses were investigated. The back room of the long house no.3 was exposed. The continuation of the southwest wall consisting of a double row of stones was revealed. To the immediate north of this wall, burnt mud brick debris was exposed and mud brick remains bearing wattle and daub traces were determined. It is observed that the room exposed to a heavy fire. Burnt vessels, potsherds and bones were found. The western part of the room no.12 was partially damaged. It is found out that the south wall was built with 3 stones consisting of 6 rows. Two small antechambers that have 15 cm protrusions were found on the south and north walls of the room. Due to the fact that the floor is inclined towards the east, it is assumed that the floor was collapsed in this direction. In Trench G15c and d, the wall no.5 was built with 2 stones consisting of 4 rows. It is suggested that these walls belong to a room since they merge and form a corner [Derin et al. 2017:147-150]. The salvage excavation was carried out by the museum in Yassitepe in 2015. The architectural remains consisting of 3 foundation walls were exposed in the north of the area. The pithos found in the middle of these remains is partially intact. The stone foundations were built with mortared medium sized stones. The remains show that there are at least two spaces with foundations consisting of a single row of stones in the north of the area. The remains of a two-phased room belonging to the second building level and a wall in the southernmost section were found in the southern half of the area. A room containing a pithos and an oven was exposed in this area. The north wall of the room extends along the trench. The wall was initially built with medium-sized stones and large jar sherds. Then, the room was enlarged and the thickness of the wall reached 1 m. Although the upper section of the oven exposed in the east of the room was damaged, the stones in the west are well preserved [Göçmen-Kiremitçi 2017:319-320]. Pottery: The potsherds recovered from the Area VI are black and mat brown colored, finely made and bright burnished. The fact that large amount of trumpet lugs and knobs in horn shape were found among the potsherds; it is suggested that this level could be dated to the beginning of EBA. The potsherds that are completely handmade are mostly in average quality. The percentage of coarse ware is %5 while fine ware is about %7-8. The paste is grit tempered and they are generally well fired. The gold mica is abundant in some of the sherds but it is generally is scarce. The surface colors are mostly dark such as gray, dark gray, black, dark brown and grayish brown. There are also pale reddish, yellowish, pinkish and pinkish red colored ones. %75 of the pottery are burnished. But only %10 of them is bright burnished. Some of the pottery is mottled. Plain wares are generally in red and brown color. Among the potsherds recovered, necked, low necked or neckless jars with a rim diameter of 7-15 cm are common. These jars are generally plain. There are also a few vessels for liquid [Derin-Caymaz 2013:125-126]. In the 2012 campaign, it was determined that Level IC3a wares show similarity with the ones belonging to the end of Kumtepe IB-IC1 and the early phases of Troia I. These wares consist of carinated bowls with trumped lugs (Type Troia A12), bowls with internally thickened rims (Type Troia A6), lids with cylindrical body, spouted pitchers, small jars with double lugs, small jars with incised decoration, funnels and mugs with lugs. In the earlier phases, Kumtepe IB type jars with internally thickened rims are common [Derin-Caymaz 2014:422]. In the plan square H17, potsherds showing EBA I characteristics were found in Level IC3a. These potsherds consist of dark faced wares with thickened in rims. Three footed vessels, spouted pitchers, mugs, and squat-necked jars with handle are common as well [Derin et al. 2015]. In 2015, a slanted pithos the half of which remains in the section and a buried pithos only the mouth of which was exposed was found in Room no.3. The high density of pithoi suggests that this room might have been used as storage. Also, two ground stones and a pestle were found in situ in the area that is covered with ash and paved with two rows of stones. Considering the finds, it seems logical to suggest that this area was also used for grinding the crops. In Trench G 15a, a melting pot and sherds belonging to a bright burnished, red slipped bowl with tripod and a single lug were found in the space between the wall no.8 and 9. The majority of the EBA I potsherds recovered from Level IIB1and 2 are handmade. The paste is grit and mica (in low or medium density) tempered. The firing is well. The surfaces are generally slipped. Grey, dark grey, black and dark brownish and greyish brown slips are common. The vessels bear similar characteristics of Troia I-Early Phase and the end of IB Kumtepe IC1 wares [Derin et al. 2017:148-149, 151]. Some potsherds were found in the room in the north area during the salvage excavations conducted by the museum in 2015. A pithos with a diameter of 1.20 m was recovered in the western part of this room. The upper section of the pithos was broken. The dark faced potsherds, foot sherds belonging to tripods, bowls with inverted rims and sherds with trumped lug found in EBA levels were dated to EBA I [Göçmen-Kiremitçi 2017:320-321]. Human Remains: In Area I, a jar burial belonging to EBA was found. The jar was placed in the east-west direction and its mouth faces to the east. It is 0.65 cm long. A stone was placed on its mouth. No skeleton remains or burial gifts were found. The grave had probably symbolic function [Derin-Caymaz 2014:423]. During the salvage excavations conducted by the museum in 2015, human remains were found in the area where the first architectural remains were recovered. These remains revealed in the midwest section of the area were found in hocker position in the east-west direction. The frontal section of the skull, femur, metacarpus and tarsal bones were damaged. The preliminary studies show that the individual has a thicker skull indicating an anomaly [Göçmen-Kiremitçi 2017:319].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The 14C analysis on carbonized wooden fragments found in upper and lower levels yielded the dates 2880-2830 BC (Phase I C3b) and 3020-2900 (Phase I C3f). These dates suggest a cultural process representing the period before Troia I and Troia I occurred in Yassitepe in the beginning of EBA. These data are important in order to understand the EBA-Chalcolithic transition period in the Aegean coast [Derin-Caymaz 2014:423]. EBA settlement consisting of megaron-like structures or two roomed long houses, the rooms of which are divided by walls, exposed in level a and b of IC3 in Yassitepe (Area VI) reflect the traditional architecture of Western Anatolia. The houses aligned in radial plan and they open to the courtyard in the center. The roofs are flat. This architectural style is also seen in Limantepe, Troia, Baklatepe, Besik-Yassitepe and Demircihöyük during EBA I. It is believed that the back walls of these houses exposed in the mound lean against a city wall. However, no trace of a defense system has yet been found due to the limited excavation area. Level ICb and IC3 c-h represent the transition period of Chalcolithic-EBA I that is contemporary with Kumtepe Ib. 14C dates obtained from IC3f support this idea as well [Derin et al. 2015].


To List