©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Hakemi Use Tepe

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Hakemi Use Tepe
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 544 m
Region:
 Southeastern Anatolia
Province:
 Diyarbakir
District:
 Bismil
Village:
 Tepe
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Early Iron Age New Assyrian Empire Period

     

Location: The site is located in the township of Tepe in the district of Bismil; province of Diyarbakir. It lies on the right bank of the old bed of the Tigris River.
Geography and Environment: Hakemi Use Tepe consists of two adjacent mounds. The second mound which was partially destructed due to the agriculture is located approximately 200 m east from the first mound named "Hakemi Use I" where the excavations are performed. This settlement which is almost unnoticed due to the cotton plantation above; measures approximately 80 m in diameter. The settlement known as "Hakemi Use II" contains ceramics of Medieval Ages Period above. The inhabitants of this second settlement apparently used the mound of Hakemi Use I as a cemetery [Tekin 2008:1].
History:
Research and Excavation: The settlement was visited during the survey performed by G. Algaze et al. in the region. The first systematic researches were initiated within the scope of "Salvage Project of the Archaeological Heritage of the Ilısu and Carchemish Dam Reservoirs Activities" in 2001 by ODTÜ TAÇDAM under the direction of H. Tekin. The ongoing excavations are being conducted under the direction of Diyarbakir Museum. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: As a result of 2001 campaign Hellenistic Period, Iron Age, Late Bronze Age and Neolithic remains were unearthed at the mound. Among these periods Hellenistic Period is being represented by a single coin, therefore insufficient to date Hakemi Use as a Hellenistic Period settlement. Besides, early Iron Age sherds that date back to Late Bronze Age, necessitate that a Late Bronze Age settlement at Hakemi Use should be carefully mentioned. Besides some of the finds revealed certainly proves an Assyrian settlement in the mound [Tekin 2004b:434]. It was found that the cultural layer has a thickness approximately of 4 m. The main level is dated to Late Neolithic Age and contains a deposit approximately of 3.5 m. The virgin soil was reached in the north section in 2004, and in the south in 2005 [Tekin 2006:17]. Hakemi Use stratification is as listed: Period I: 1st Millennium BC (Early Iron Age) Period II: 2nd Millennium BC (Middle and Late Bronze Age) Period III: Late Neolithic (Ceramic Neolithic / Hassuna/Samarra) [Tekin 2006:293; Tekin 2007: 369].
Small Finds: Architecture: Since almost all the Iron Age and Late Bronze Age architectural remains were destroyed at Hakemi Use during 20th century the presence of these periods can only be traced through the sherds found at the site [Tekin 2003:59-70]. Still, the remains of a middle size floor pavement that contain no sign of craftsmanship were found, after cleaning the surface dirt inside trench G8b during 2005 campaign. This floor pavement lies in the direction of the western extension of the trench. The sherds which were collected on the pavement which was not build to a specific plan, belong to Neo-Assyrian Period. These vessels were made of buff colored paste on a high-speed wheel. Nipple base and knob base sherds are also vessels which have an important place in Assyrian pottery. These building remains were dated to Neo-Assyrian Period and these compose rare specimens of the settlement which survived modern destruction. The eastern section of the building possibly was related to an area related with water and was partially destroyed. As the excavation team preserved the structure remains and continued digging in the other section of the trench, pits approximately 2-3 m in diameter were encountered. Hand-made mostly jug formed vessels' sherds were unearthed inside the deposit soil from graves of Islamic origin. These vessles were also encountered during previous campaigns, and compose the grooved ware of the archaeological literature encountered inside the Early Iron Age levels excavated at Upper Tigris Valley [Tekin 2007:358-359]. In 2008 two hearths were revealed adjacent to the two Early Iron Age silos which were approximately 2 m in diameter inside trench F7 [Tekin 2010:40]. Pottery: The most common Iron Age form observed at Hakemi Use, is the bowl with the thickened-out rim. This kind of light buff color ceramics, were previously observed at settlements such as Üçtepe, Gre Dimse near Diyarbakir. The second group among Iron Age sherds were composed of grove rimmed specimens. Besides these, Neo Assyrian knob base sherds were collected on mound surface. Since almost all the Iron Age and Late Bronze Age architectural remains were destroyed at Hakemi Use during 20th century the presence of these periods can only be traced through the sherds found at the site [Tekin 2003: 59-70]. The latest settlement at Hakemi Use Tepe belongs to Early Iron Age. The sherds of that period covers the entire mound surface. Though the 2001 campaign revealed only monochrome Iron Age sherds, a small number of painted Early Iron Age sherds were unearthed during 2002 campaign. A large number of the vessels from this period were very elaborately wheel made and well baked. Short neck jugs and spouted mouths are among the vessel forms of this period [Tekin 2004b:273-278]. As the trench was dug deeper, a change occured on the soil texture and the quality of the sherd unearthed. This sudden change has not revealed a sterile level. The wheel made ceramics were replaced by a tradition of coarse, hand-made pottery specimens. Four dump sites were encountered in the west, south, north and center sections of the trench. A small number of sherds were found inside the pits along with the grey cinder. In one of the dump pits coarse hand-made sherds compose the majority of specimens, and in three others wheel made specimens constitutes the majority. The majority consists of bowl and dish formed wheel made monochrome well baked ceramics' sherds. These sherds are of Middle and Neo Assyrian Period characteristics both based on their forms and the paste specifications [Tekin 2004a: 427]. Another type of vessel found at Hakemi Use is the knob base vase. Intact specimens of these types were not unearthed at Hakemi Use excavations to date. These vessels made with a small amount of grit added inside pinkish buff colored pastes, by baking at high temperatures. The small knob placed at the bottom of these vases is a common feature [Tekin 2004a:430]. Among the sherds revealed inside the trench E 8 wheel made sherds compose an important group; based on their form and their technique they bear the Middle and Neo Assyrian period sherds' characteristics [Tekin 2004a: 428]. Almost all Iron Age sherds are monochrome and most were wheelmade. There are also a small number of coarse kitchenware. The grove decorated sherds compose an important place among the Iron Age pottery. An important number among these vessels consist of simple inverted rimmed closed forms. The clay red paste of this ware contains intense lime temper. These well baked vessels have crispy nature. The grove decorated sherds which compose the characteristic type among Southeast and East Anatolian Early Iron Age sherds, are familiar from earlier Diyarbakir area excavations and surveys; such as Gre Dimse and Talavas Tepe mounds excavated within the scope of Ilisu Project, north of Üçtepe and Tigris; Imikusagi, Norsuntepe, Tille and Lidar Mounds in the Upper Euphrates Catchment [Tekin 2004a:429-430]. Another group among the sherds unearthed at Hakemi Use, is the bowl with thickened out rim typical to Iron Age in the region. Sharp shoulders are also among these vessels. This type of vessels are unearthed inside the Neo Assyrian levels excavated sites such as Sultantepe, Tille Höyük, Üçtepe, Gre Dimse, Boztepe, Salat Tepe, Ninive, Nimrud, Assur [Tekin 2004b:430]. Hand made Early Iron Age sherds were found which are not related to any of the architectural remains during the excavations performed inside trench E6 in 2006. Jewelry: A bronze bracelet possibly dated to Iron Age was found inside trench E7, during the 2001 campaign [Tekin 2003:59-70]. Two fibulae were also found inside the same trench. The body on one of the fibulae was heavily corroded, and one pin is missing on this one. This type of fibulae are known as Asia Minor type fibulae and are observed inside Iron Age levels at various Asia Minor regions. Some other metal artifacts were also found at this area. This artifact is a small bronze bracelet (diameter: 4.2 cm), has a round cross-section, the ends were flattened through hammering. Its small size suggests that it belonged to a child. Since this type of bracelets were used a long period of time, it is hard to tell which period they belonged but as was mentioned, Iron Age dating is a high probability [Tekin 2004a:426-427]. Grave: E 9 trench yielded solely a dump pit. Intense cinder level inside the pit contained sherds of Iron Age characteristics. In addition to five Islamic graves inside the trench, a basic Iron Age earth burial was found where only a skull fragment and some skeleton parts were unearthed. The grave is very plain and it yielded three bronze bracelets with open ends, three miniature vases entirely broken into pieces. These vases were wheel made from elaborately prepared pastes. Fine grit and a small amount of mica was mixed inside the buff colored paste [Tekin 2004a:429]. Trench I8b yielded Islamic graves besides two simple Late Assyrian Period graves. Wheel made monochrome vessels were unearthed inside these graves [Tekin 2007:361]. In 2008 3 Late Assyrian Period graves were revealed inside trench F7. Only one contained burial gifts. The dead inside grave M-304 was positioned in east-west direction, hocker form and belonged to an adult, a vase that had missing sections on the mouth and neck areas was left between his hands. In one of the other graves the dead of another adult person was again buried in hocker form, and in the other another body was buried in semi-hocker form [Tekin 2010:39]. Two Late Assyrian period graves were revealed inside trench G6. The oillamp inside grave#M-259, left inside as burial gift is particularly remarkable. The trefoil oillamp has an incised ring base and a large dish at the bottom. The fact that it was very elaborately worked and there were no traces of burning suggested that it either was produced particularly for the grave or had the abstract function of illuminating the underground. The second grave belonged to a newborn child and contained a pellet bottom vase with an elaborate craftsmanship [Tekin 2010:41].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating:


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