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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Coba Höyük / Sakçagözü |
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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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620 m |
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Region:
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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Gaziantep |
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District:
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Nurdagi |
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Village:
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Sakçagözü |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Ceramic |
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| Location: It lies 3 km northwest of the Sakçagöz (Keferdiz) Village; west-northwest of the Gaziantep Province. |
| Geography and Environment: It measures 9 m in height together with the bedrock and 140x90 m in dimensions. It is one of the medium sized mounds of the Southeastern Anatolia region. The cultural deposit is reported not to exceed 6 m. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The recovery of the reliefed orthostates in 1907 attracted the attentions; and caused the excavations conducted on the mound; known as "Mound A"; in 1908. The limited work time of Garstang's team; the existence of the orthostates; and the smallness of the mound caused the excavations start at this mound instead of other more important and big mounds [Garstang 1908:100Ğ101]. After a break; excavations were continued in 1911. The last excavation in Coba Höyük (or Jubba Huyuk as Garstang says) was conducted by J. Waechter with J. du Plat Taylor and M.V. Seton-Williams for the British Archaeology Institute in 1949 [du Plat Taylor et al. 1950:53-138]. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The excavation yielded 12 layers: Layer I: Neolithic Period; Layer II: Samarran and Halaf affinities; Layer III: Halaf affinities; Layer IV: Ubaid affinities; Layer V: Uruk-Jemdet Nasr; Layer V-VIII: Middle Bronze Age; Layer IX-XI: Iron Age. The earliest Neolithic layers were exposed in two trenches in the northern part of the mound and in one trench on the eastern side. None of these trenches are large. The results of the excavations were not as informative because of the lack of good excavation techniques. Coba Höyük (Sakçagözü) in the Islahiye Plain is an important place where future excavations should be held. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Although the Neolithic layers did not yield architecture; the rows of post holes suggest that there was a village of wattle and daub houses in this area. Pottery: Layer I yielded hand-made; burnished red; brown; black and gray ware made with gray clay. The most frequent forms have flaring rims. Lugs are rare. Some of the sherds have incised decoration. The incised decoration is occasionally incrusted with white silty clay. The burnishing on the well-fired ceramics is especially good. Some painted and well burnished sherds were also found. Chipped Stone: The chipped stone tools from Layer I have not been published in detail. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Although the finds from the earliest layer at Coba Höyük are limited; the shape and decorations of the ceramics show close affinity with Amuq A and B types. This material is quite different from the Central Anatolian ware and on the contrary quite similar to the the ceramic assemblage of the lower levels at Mersin; Yumuktepe. It has been suggested that this site was one of the temporary settling areas for nomads in the sixth millennium BC. In prehistory and today; the Islahiye Plain has many housed settlements. The surface surveys have located more than 50 sites. |
