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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Çukuriçi |
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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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30 m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Izmir |
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District:
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Selçuk |
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Village:
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Merkez |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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EBA I |
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| Location: It is located at Çukuriçi Mevkii called ancient Smyrna; 500 m southeast of the Magnesia Gate of the ancient city of Ephesus (Efes); 1 km south of the Selçuk District; south of Izmir Province. It is situated inside the crossroads triangle of Selçuk; Aydin and Efes. The Dervent Stream passes by the mound. [Evren-Içten 1998:map at draw.1]. It lies 100 m west of the Aydin motorway [Evren 1999:draw.1]. |
| Geography and Environment: Although it was offered to be named as Apasas; the excavators preferred to name it after the site it is located. Standing between the branches of the Dervent Stream; it was evidenced that the settlement used to situate on the coast of the Aegean Sea reaching almost near Ephesus during the third millennium BC based on both the geomorphological studies and plenty of sea animal shells recovered from the settlement. The mound has an oval shape; and been partly damaged during mandarin planting [Evren 1999:draw.2]. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was discovered by coincidence while the researchers of the Efes Archaeological Museum were controlling the leveling work in a mandarin garden in 1995. The same year; a salvage excavation was started. It continued in 1996. Only a depth of 1 m was dug due to the shortage of funds. In 2009 the previous Trenches S1-S2 are extended in North and West and Trenches S3-S4 are opened. The purpose of the excavation is to understand better the Early Bronze Age structure complexes and to find possible closed spaces which are partly unearthed during the last two years. Structure Phases ÇuHö IV and III which are defined by stratigraphic methods are understood better with the results obtained in 2009 [Koder-Ladstätter 2011: 278]. |
| Stratigraphy: Exposure of sherds dating from the Neolithic Age (?) on the surface and the Late Chalcolithic Age; the EBA and the second millennium BC during the excavation has laid out that it is a multi-layered settlement. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: No other significant remains were uncovered except the fragments of mudbrick walls with stone foundations. Traces of hearth bases are observed. Some layers underwent a fire. The collapsed stones of the walls caused by continuous ploughing have been scattered around. Entire hill surface and environs were scanned through geomagnetic and georadar methods by Ephesus excavation team in 2008 and Çukuriçi III and Çukuriçi IV building levels' houses were unearthed during excavations performed north of EBA walls that were documented in 2007 [Koder-Ladstatter 2010:321-322]. Building complexes consisting of many spaces in the previous centre of the mound exist in structure phases III and IV. The houses are built by adobe walls on stone foundations and stone bases which are painted with white lime. The regular distribution of the column pits suggests existence of a roof. The bases are made of simple pressurized muddy soil and covered by river rocks and in situ at some parts. With the help of the results obtained this year many floors can be distinguished in ÇuHö IV and III where either the construction is completed in individual spaces and later modified or some new floors are added. The existence of pits with different functions is identified this year for the first time [Koder-Ladstätter 2011: 279]. Pottery: A handmade; thin-walled; shouldered vessel dating from the beginning of the third millennium BC and a buff pasted and burnished jug with a dark buff colored surface dating from the midst of the third millennium BC were recovered. Usually found are sherds of handmade; string-hole handled vessels. Chipped Stone: Plenty of flint and obsidian flake; blade and wastes recovered both from the surface and during the excavation evidences the presence of a heavy industry. Other: Evren and Içten report that there are finds like terra cotta spindle whorls; bone tools; flat stone axes; bronze flat axes; etc. which they hesitate to date them since they were collected from the surface. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: It is certain that Çukuriçi Höyügü is one of the earliest settlements in the vicinity. It is suggested that the inhabitants were dependent on fishing besides agriculture and animal husbandry as the site was near the Aegean Sea. The finds yielded by Ephesus excavation team in 2008 suggested that the settlement should originally be located at a natural and cultural space. The fact that Near Eastern methods of weighing were used at the settlement and the usage of from Melos Island imported obsidian for tools production suggest this place had an important trade network. On the other hand the kilns found at this location were for metal works and the finds such as objects made of molten metal and the presence of moulds prove that [Koder-Ladstatter 2010.322]. |
