©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Çadir Höyük

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Çadır Höyük
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 1000 m
Region:
 Central Anatolia
Province:
 Yozgat
District:
 Sorgun
Village:
 Peyniryemez
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Late

     

Location: The site lies in Peyniryemez Village; 13 km northwest of Alisar Höyük; in Yozgat.
Geography and Environment: The mound is located on a limestone reef; north of Egri Özü Valley extending from east to west. A stream flows south and west of the mound. It is 32 m high above the level of the plain and measures 240x185 m. The site has been moved towards northeast in time and has a lower terrace; extending 200 m in this area. It is reported that the region was much more watery when there was life at Çadir Höyük [Gorny et al. 1999:167]. Illicit digging pits are observed on top of the mound in last years.
History:
Research and Excavation: First excavations at Çadir Höyük were launched by H. von Osten and Erich Schmidt in between the years 1927 and 1932 with Oriental Institute at Chicago University as their sponsor. In 1993, during the Alisar Survey Project, survey team documented that the settlement was to be submerged by Gelingüllü Dam so they decided for a small scale excavation in 1994. After a short break, the site was excavated again in 1998 and excavations were carried out until 2009 under the directory of R.L. Gorny from the University of Chicago. In 2012, Gregory McMahon from the University of New Hamsphire the and his team started excavating at the site.
Stratigraphy: The latest layers of Çadir Höyük belong to Roman-Byzantine Period; there is also Late Iron Age and 2nd millennium BC finds obtained too. Layers II and I which are dated to the end of Late Chalcolithic and layer III dated to Middle Chalcolithic take place at the top hill trenches and at the southern step-trench; immediately under the layers of later periods [Gorny et al. 1999:152]. The preliminary chronology of the mound is as follows: X: Islamic IXa: Byzantine IXc: Byzantine IXd: Byzantine VI: Late Iron Age Va: Middle Iron Age Vb: Early Iron/Late Bronze IVa: Late Bronze II IVb: Late Bronze I IIIa: Middle Bronze IIIb: Middle Bronze II IIa: Early Bronze IIb: Early Bronze IIc: Trans. EB/LC Ia1: Late Chalcolithic Ia2: Late Chalcolithic Ib1: Late Chalcolithic Ib2: Late Chalcolithic Ib3: Late Chalcolithic Ic: Early Chalcolithic Id: Early Chalcolithic Ie: Early Chalcolithic If: Neolithic [Gorny et al. 2006].
Small Finds: Architecture: Late Chalcolithic: It is reported that layer I; at the slopes of the mound; has been quite destructed and leveled due to terracing activities; which made at the later periods. Stone foundation mud-walls; pressed floors and silo like small building remains with stone foundations and plastered mud brick walls found in layer II. Broken mud bricks and not well-protected walls are commented to be the results of a fire in this layer [Gorny et al. 1999:165]. Top hill trenches yielded a terrace or an enclosing wall supported by wooden posts; houses in northwest-southeast direction with in situ wares on their floors and silos with plastered walls built near the houses. Jar burials found under the floors [Gorny et al. 1999:151-155]. Middle Chalcolithic: This period is represented at the slope trench with a several parallel walls and well-plastered floor fragments related to these walls [Gorny et al. 1999:153]. In 2006, Chalcolithic levels were excavated this year on the lower south slope where there was a gate and enclosure wall. It now appears the wall went around the entire site.[http://cat.une.edu.au/page/cadir%20hoyuk, 16.11.2009, 16:08]. In 2013, the studies carried out in the trenches on the southern slope of the mound. The levels below "Burnt Building and Courtyard", which was documented in previous seasons, were studied in detail. This Burnt Building is closely related to the enclosing wall and gate. In 2013, two hearths, one bakery oven, pottery production tools and the courtyard, which contains probably an oven, were removed. In this courtyard, two structures in apsidal plan were exposed. It is believed that these structures were used as dwelling. To the west of these structures, hearth and storage units were exposed. The rooms measure about 2-2.5 m in width and 3-4 m in length. Since their south edges are close to the edge of the mound, they have been vanished. The room in the west contains a plastered floor and a platform. This platform-like feature is located at the north corner. These apsidal structures dated to 3450 BC indicate that the region was inhabited by an immigrant group during the mid 4th millennium BC. So, it is possible that these buildings represent a short-time transition period. A child burial was found below the oven [Serifoglu et al. 2015]. The 2014 studies concentrated in the trenches of SES1-2, LSS 3 and USS 9-10. The building complexes exposed in these trenches are dated to the mid 4th millennium BC, 3600-3400 BC. It is determined that the floors, which were excavated until the depth of 25-50 cm, were built as semi underground. The radiocardon dates supports the excavation results regarding the semi-underground architecture of apsidal buildings. According to the sample taken from the burnt building, the building is dated to the mid 4th millennium BC (3630-3580 cal BC) [Serifoglu et al. 2016: 306]. Pottery: Red-black burnished wares were found under the deposit interrelated with the EBA I levels of Alisar because of the black bright ware recovered during the surface collections. This ware is reported to be the typical ware of the Chalcolithic Age in this region. The Chalcolithic pottery of Çadir Höyük is divided into two main groups: coarse and fine wares. All of them are grit-tempered. Some sherds are plant-tempered. Vessels with closed rims are usually of coarse ware; while small bowls are of fine ware. Fruit-stands resemble Alisar vessels. Both faces of the vessels are burnished and painted. The visible sides are usually black slipped and burnished; while the interior surface colors vary from light red to brownish gray. It is reported that some ware has mottled surface. Big vessels are of coarse ware. The exterior surfaces are light buff slipped. A few incised and dot decorated sherds resembling Alisar were found. A brown burnished sherd has white painting decoration. Fruit stands and footed bowls resembling Alisar encountered in every phase. Small handles; starting from mouth reaching the upper body; and knobs seen on black burnished ware. Flat rims and small lugs are common features. An omphalos bowl and a basket shaped urn were also found. Some zoomorphic movable ovens; resembling Early Trans Caucasian andirons; were mentioned but; also it was stated that those could be dated to later periods after Chalcolithic Age [Gorny et al. 1995:70-71;77-78; Gorny et al. 1999:155-157]. During the 2014 studies, a very large hearth, the similar ones of which were exposed in 2012 excavations, was found. Two almost whole pots (one of which has a foot of fruit-stand) were found in this hearth [Serifoglu et al. 2016:308]. Clay: In Trench USS 9, small ash pits that were probably used as a storage or workshop were found apart from two small rooms. These pits contain poorly made animal figurines [Serifoglu et al. 2016:308]. Chipped Stone: Obsidian debitages and blades; blade-like tools made of chert and chalkhedon were found [Gorny et al. 1999:157]. Ground Stone: Spouted bowls and grinding stones made of basalt were found. It was reported that basalt was a raw material of trade [Gorny et al. 1999:157]. A pendant resembling Alisar found in one of the child burials. Human Remains: Urn burials found under the floors of Late Chalcolithic houses. These burials belong to children and no grave goods encountered except one pendant. Two layers that constitute the transition into EBA I and pithos graves were found during the researches in 2006 [http://cat.une.edu.au/page/cadir%20hoyuk; 29.5.2008; 13:30]. In 2014, child burials were exposed in the trenches of SES 1-2. In the central debris, a skeleton belonging to a 1-2 years old child was covered with a large pithos sherd. In the southern debris, another burial covered with a broken high-footed fruit-stand was found [Serifoglu et al. 2016:306-307]. Fauna: The animal bones which were studied by L. Bigelow indicated that sheep; goat; pig and cattle were domesticated and gazelle was hunted. The mass of tortoise (Trionyx euphraticus) bones is conspicuous [Gorny et al. 1999:166]. Flora: The analyses of the Chalcolithic Age / EBA flora of Çadir Höyük hint the existence of emmer (Triticum dicoccum); einkorn (Triticum monococcum); and bread wheat. In addition; grain; remains of leguminous plants; and plants that could not be differentiated were recovered [ChernoffĞHarnischfeger 1996:165;176 fig. 1]. During the studies conducted in the trenches of SES 1-2 in 2014, vetch and wheat seeds were found in low quantity near the rocks [Serifoglu et al. 2016:306].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: It is reported that Çadir Höyük finds are typical for the Late Chalcolithic culture of the region. Especially mentioned is the close parallelism between Alisar and Çadir Höyük pottery. The main intend of the researches at this settlement is investigating the Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age transition. The other subject that the researches focused on is the silo-like remains. These buildings; which do not give any plant remains thought to be made for storing water; mashing grape; put out vegetal oil or used in cult ceremonies [Gorny et al. 1999:165]. Far distance raw material trade at the settlement is understood by the existence of basalt and obsidian finds. It is thought that there should be an enclosing wall; because of the strategic location of the site and its suitable position for food storage. Also the traces of fire are thought to be suggesting an attack against the settlement [Gorny et al. 1999:167]. The main food resource of the site was animal husbandry and hunting was being done too. The situation of the site among the other settlements of Kanak Su Valley region is not certain yet.


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