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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Demircihöyük |
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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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870 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Eskisehir |
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District:
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Çukurhisar |
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Village:
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Zemzemiye |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Early Late |
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| Location: This site lies 25 km west of the city of Eskisehir; northwest of the town of Çukurhisar and along the highway between this town and the village of Poyra; before the turn-off to Zemzemiye. |
| Geography and Environment: The mound which lies in the western part of the Eskisehir Plain; located along the Anatolian shore of the Sea of Marmara; remains partially beneath the alluvial fill of the mound. It is 80 m in diameters and 5 m above the level of the plain today. Test trenches and deep soundings revealed that the actual dimensions of the mound are much larger. It has partially been cut by the Çukurhisar-Poyra highway. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: After discovering the mound of Demircihöyük; K. Bittel opened a few test trenches at the site. Another excavation led by M. Korfmann was conducted between 1975-1978. |
| Stratigraphy: After Bittel's excavation; Demircihöyük became a key-settlement for the EBA of Northwestern Anatolia. 16 building levels; dating to the EBA; were revealed. The complicated recovery of the Neolithic [Harmankaya et al. 1997:Demircihöyük] and Chalcolithic Age finds from these levels suggest that earlier settlements beneath the EBA levels or around the EBA mound may exist. The sherds probably got mixed while taking out the soil from the settlement debri by the EBA inhabitants; for the construction of EBA mud-brick houses. In addition; the flattening of the old mound during the construction of fortified EBA village; might as well have caused confusion. The Late Chalcolithic Age sherds were partly recovered in situ in the deep sounding. |
| Small Finds: Pottery: 12% of the sherds recovered from the EBA levels are Neolithic and Chalcolithic Age sherds. Pre-EBA sherds were observed by J. Seeher in detail; and studied in 7 ware groups from A to G: D-E belong to the Early Chalcolithic Age; while F-G belong to the Late Chalcolithic Age [Seeher 1987a:46-64]. Ware D: Red paint decorated ware: It is a paint decorated variaiton of Ware E. Grit tempering is observed. Red brown paint and geometrical motifs are observed to be drawn over white beige slip. Bowls with S-profiles are abundant. Ware E: Grit-tempered ware: The sherds that did not belong to A-C wares were put into this group by Seeher. Jars with pierced lugs are very common among the forms. Bowls with S-profiles are also observed. Pyxis and lids are reported to be few. Relief and incised decorated sherds are rare. Ware F: Late Chalcolithic Age fine ware: The most important characteristic of this ware is the existence of 1mm thick holes in the sherd profiles because of high organic temper. Seeher claims that this temper is the animal feces. Surface colors are usually black. Forms are carinated bowls; and handled jars. The handle of the jars is a characteristic of this form. Ware G: Late Chalcolithic Age coarse ware: This ware is observed to be straw and coarse large grit-tempered; usually grayish-brown; with a few examples of thin red slip. Jar with inverted rim and long bulged handles is the typical form. In addition; carinated bowls and handled jars are existent. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Seeher tried to state the datings of these ware groups by their formal similarities. The best resembling examples of the red paint decorated ware (Ware D) are observed in Hacilar culture. Red painted decorated pottery; related to the Hacilar V-II; is concluded to have developed in Northern Anatolia. There are resemblances of grit-tempered Ware E in the Early Chalcolithic Age of Southwestern and Southern Anatolia. In addition; there may be similarities with Elmali Plain settlements and the Middle Chalcolithic Age sherds of Kuruçay. It is reported that absolute chronology is not easy because of the lack of material. The Late Chalcolithic Age fine ware is related to Kumtepe I a-b; Emporio X-VII at the north; and the Late Chalcolithic Age of Beycesultan at the southwest. The Late Chalcolithic Age coarse ware is dated to the Late Chalcolithic Age; because it was found together with Ware F. The resemblances of this ware are observed in the Middle and Late Chalcolithic Age; and even EBA. |
