©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Domuztepe

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Domuztepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 250 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Osmaniye
District:
 Kadirli
Village:
 Çerçioglu
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:

     

Location: The site lies north of Adana; approximately 17 km southeast of Kadirli District; 6.5 km southwest of Çerçiusagi Village; just across Karatepe ruins.
Geography and Environment: The site is located on the eastern shore of Aslantepe Dam; near the lake. It used to lie on a rocky elevation; overlooking Ceyhan River; before the construction of the dam. The old settlements are on the western and southern slopes of the mound. The settlement is divided into three areas: The plateau where the Roman farm is located; the mound with all levels revealed; and the slope settlement (for detailed location see Harmankaya et al. 1997:Domuztepe).
History:
Research and Excavation: Following the first excursion in 1947, a small survey and excavation were conducted by Y. Bahadir Alkim with very limited sources between 1949 and 1953, during which fortification walls belonging to the Late Hittite Period as well as Late Hittite statues and reliefs from the 9th and 8th Millennia BC were uncovered. Two monumental, but partly incomplete gate-lions from the 9th century BC (Late Hittite Period) were found on the southern slope, and they probably slided down from the upper part [Çambel 1984:157-158]. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: The investigator reports that a fortified city, which initiated from the 7th century BC (Neolithic Age) with monumental buildings on the 2nd millennium BC, and maintained her presence with a similar monumentality during the Late Hittite Period, was revealed during the surveys conducted on the slope for the fragments that may have belonged to the two gateway lions during the removal of these lions [Mellink 1998:1-8]. Domuztepe has a 4 m thick archeological deposit belonging to several periods [Çambel-Özdogan 1985:260]. Three main cultural phases were identified on the slope: 1. Neolithic Age (late 7th Millennium BC/early 6th Millennium BC) 2. Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age Transition (late 4th century Millennium BC/early 3rd Millennium BC) 3. Middle Bronze Age-Early Iron Age (early 2nd Millennium BC- 6th century BC) Further investigations revealed that the main slope settlement belonged to the Middle Bronze-Early Iron periods, which is called Phase 3, and that the settlement was moved upwards during the Early Iron Age (10th-8th centuries BC) [Çambel-Özdogan 1985:260].
Small Finds: Architecture: It is possible to suggest that there was a Late Hittite fortress looking almost like a pile of stones on the tophill. The structure group on the tophill was surrounded by a fortification wall, of which the lower section was made of large stone blocks and the upper section, of moderate-size stone blocks with an overall lenght of 60 m. This fortification is connected to a rock which steeply descends down to the river at the immediate skirt of the acropolis. On the southern end of the fortification wall is a terrace wall with several modification phases [Çambel 1986:276]. The wall is 2.4 m thick in average. On the plain ground of the tophill lies a rectangular area of 12x20 m from the Late Hittite Period, enclosed by monumental stones, probably forming a large platform or a podium. Although plenty of Iron Age sherds were uncovered in this area, no undamaged layer was available for excavation [Çambel et al. 1996:229-237]. Also found among the debris of stones are foundations erected using the dry stone technique in various sizes in a single row (structure no. 46-51). It appears that structures 46-48 located on the western section of the building, which totally consists of six structures, seemingly belonging to a larger complex in a northwest-southeast direction are larger while the structures 49-51 to the east are narrower. It is also likely that there is a second fortification wall with an average thickness of 2 m, which joins with wall no. 9 at an angle of 90 degree on the northwestern corner of the hill strecthing from the southwest (wall no. 38). The 1991 and 1992 campaigns focused on one section of the fortifications, presumably pierced by a gate on the northeast corner. A second entrance to Domuztepe was probably from the lower plain ground lying to the southeast of the hill. A passageway in a north-south direction flanked by a series of large stone blocks placed vertically using the ortostat technique was found when looking for the above mentioned entrances. It appears that the passageway was, later on, walled up. On the plain ground of the tophill a rectangular area was found as enclosed by monumental stones dating to the Late Hittite Period, which forms a large platform. With an overall size of 12x20 m, main frame of this structure was revealed [Çambel et al. 1996:231-232]. Pottery: Another interesting group of finds related with the fortress consists of many fragments of terracotta pots uncovered in a deposit of earth (trench S599) on the western slope of the enclosure wall made of large basalt blocks at the bottom of the fortress. First analysis showed that most of them can be completed, and they might have been intentionally thrown down the fortifications [Çambel et al. 1996:236]. The sherds were not associated well with any of the archaeological deposits, and they were divided into two main groups. The first group is represented by more coarse, sand and grit-tempered, poor baked ware dated to the Iron Age. They are comparable with the orange-buff and greenish-white colored ware unearthed at Karatepe-Aslantas. The second group includes very thin walled, elegant ware with a basalt powder kneaded paste [Çambel-Knudstand 1994:315; Çambel et al. 1996:232-235]. The Assyrian and Cypriot sherds from the Early Bronze Age found in a multi-room building on the northwest section are significant as they indicate a relationship between Domuztepe and other regions [Çambel-Özdoğan 1985:266]. Chipped Stone: Mainly whetstones, several heads and tool fragments were found. Grind Stone: Mainly stone mortars and grinding stones were found. Clay: Among the terracotta finds are spindle whorls and loom weights. Figurine: Two figurines with stretching legs as if riding a horse and glued eyes can be attributed to the Iron Age. Their alikes were found at the Early and Middle Iron Age level and the 6th century BC level at Gözlükule [Çambel-Knudstand 1994:315]. The terracotta figurines from the Iron Age/Late Hittite period found in 1991 include human figurines riding, but with no horses, an equestrian figurine with broken legs and heads, and fragments of human and animal figurines. Statue/Relief: A hand with a broken wrist, probably of a monumental statue, was found on the northeastern slope. Thus, presence of another statue from the 9th century BC other than the one rising on a base with two bulls was clarified at Domuztepe [Çambel-Knudstand 1994:315]. It was also found out that the gateway lions left from the 9th century BC-Late Hittite Period, reported as three by U.B. Alkim on the southern slope, were in fact two only. Partly incomplete, these monumental gate-lions collapsed down the slope [Çambel 1983:157-158; Mellink 1987:4]. Miscellenaous: Among the finds are weights, stone axes, iron spearhead and fibula fragments, stone fragment with omphalos, and a very pale bone seal [Çambel et al. 1996:234].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The upper part of the citadel had been destroyed due to over-development during the later period [Mellink 1985:551]. Based on the investigations, Çambel reported that in spite of this destruction, the settlement at Domuztepe was moved to the upper sections of the slope during the Early Iron Age, i.e. 10th to 8th century BC; and the buildings had been supported by sets well-arranged in accordance with the rocks in this narrow and steeper section where the bedrock randomly surfaces. Erected with non-casemate large blocks, the fortification strecthes at a level of ca. 160 m. Possible presence of a simple gate piercing the northern section of the wall, partly destroyed by the 7th century BC structures, and recovery of a fragment of a basalt statue near the gate suggest that the gate might have been flanked by sphinx or lion statues. On the southern slope, where the slided lion statues were found, probably there was a second gate. However, no remnants of a fortification wall or gate were found here [Çambel-Özdoğan 1985:260]. It appears that the fortification communicating with a rock steeply descending down to the river at the immediate skirt of the acropolis had lost its function during the 7th century BC, and the structures standing partly on the fortifications were spreaded onto the slope. Traces of mortar and lime stuff are observed on the wall of a very well-preserved two-room structure from this period. Also found is a large building on the rocky and steep section on which the slope with a very strategical location for Domuztepe makes a sharp curve. This building was supported by thick terrace walls, rising gradually towards the ridge [Çambel 1986:276-277]. It was found out that there were buildings on the slope, but the main settlement was moved to the upper plain ground again during the 6th century BC [Çambel-Özdoğan 1985:266; Çambel 1986:276-277].


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