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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Demircitepe / Demirköy |
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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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520 m |
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Region:
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Southeastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Diyarbakir |
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District:
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Silvan |
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Village:
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Demirkuyu |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Aceramic |
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| Location: This site lies northeast of the city of Batman; on the eastern part of the Demircitepe hill in Demirkuyu (Demirköy/Demirciler) Village. The mound is referred to both as Demircitepe and as Demirci Höyük. Yakar calls it Demirci Tepe. In the most recent publication the mound is referred to as Demirköy Höyügü. |
| Geography and Environment: The eastern part of the site; which lies on the western bank of Batman Stream; a tributary of the Tigris; was cut by this stream. The exposed cross-section revealed that there was a 7 m deep cultural depositional layer at the site. On the mound; which has been partially buried under the alluvial deposit from the nearby plateau; cotton plant is cultivated. Because of the intense cultivation; the dimensions of the site could not be determined. The surface collection was mainly concentrated along the streams. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1989 during the reconnaissance survey led by G. Algaze in the area between Batman and Bismil as part of the survey in the Birecik; Kargamis; Dicle and Batman Provinces. After the second intensive survey of 1993; the finds were carefully examined and it was suggested that; except for a small number of Medieval sherds; the site includes a large Aceramic Neolithic site. According to the ground stone finds collected from the surface; it was concluded that the site belongs to a later date than Hallan Çemi and earlier than the round planned building phase of Çayönü. In order to understand the size of the settlement and the thickness of the cultural deposit; and the culture; social and economic lives of the inhabitants with the help of architectural remains; animal bones and carbonized plant remains; sounding excavations were initiated in 1997 under tha directorship of M. Rosenberg and B. Paesnall. The results of the later excavations have not been published yet. |
| Stratigraphy: The excavations were carried out on the northeastern section of the mound; in three trenches measuring 5 m in length and in another trench in the central part of the mound measuring 5x5 m. During the first two years; the trenches were not du more than 2 m and the virgin soil was not reached. The excavators for now do not give information on the stratigraphy of the mound. No clear results have been reached from the section cleaning as well. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: A plastered pebble floor could be identified in the cross-section although no signs of mudbrick architecture were found [Algaze 1991:181]. In the lower part of the cross-section is a darker; bell-shaped depression. During the excavation of 1997; no architectural remains worth mentioning were encountered. In the lower layer (?) stone groups were seen. In the excavated area; there are traces such as thin ash layers [Rosenberg-Peasnall 1998:197]. Pottery: The surprising recovery of three sherds have indicated the existence of baked bowls with coarse paste which were produced at the settlement on purpose. The hole on one of the sherds; because it resembles the hanging holes of the stone bowls; suggests that this bowl also had the same purpose with the stone bowls. Clay: The inhabitants of Demirköy have produced human and animal figures from clay. Pieces of these baked clay artifacts were found during the 1997 excavation. Chipped Stone: Of the 900 chipped stone tools recovered; it has been determined that 8% are obsidian. The industry is comprised of end-scrapers on blades; massive scrapers; perforators; points; backed blades; blade cores; crescent-like microliths; backed micro-points [Algaze et al. 1991:fig. 3]. Although obsidian tools and debitage products were rare; it is interesting that it was the preferred material for half of the microlith tools. Among the small geometrical tools; fish scale shaped ones are in majority. However; there is a large number of lunar shapeed examples as well. The other types of these tools ara represented by points and sickle blades [Rosenberg-Peasnall 1998:198;fig. 4;5]. With the roughly triangular shaped Nemrik type points and the other types mentioned above; the industry of the site is similar to Hallan Çemi. Ground Stone: The ground stone finds include burnished celts; whetstones and pestles. One of the whetstones has a raised decoration on it; in the shape of a V [Algaze-Rosenberg 1991:fig. 3/3]. The ground stone industry of Demirköy also remebleb Hallan Çemi. Sherds belonging to stone bowls were found. These bowls were carved from a black-gray stone and their exterior surfaces were ornamented with incised decoration such as straight lines and chevrons. After some bowls were broken; their sherds were shaped and reused as amulets or for other small artifacts [Rosenberg-Peasnall 1998:fig.3.1]. A flat pebble stone; probably taken from the Batman stream; was notched from the top and the bottom used as a net weight with a string [Rosenberg-Peasnall 1998:fig.3.3]. Bone/Antler: An antler sickle blade; approximately 10 cm in length; suggests the purpose of producing microlith tools [Algaze-Rosenberg 1991:fig 3/2]. Fauna: Although analysis of the animal remains showed deer; wild pig and sheep; it has not been determined whether they had been domesticated. Human Remains: Based on the two burials recovered during the 1997 excavation; it is suggested that the dead were buried in the settlement. These burials belong to one adult and one child. They are both flexed tightly. The adult burial is located in the center of the mound and was recovered from the trench which is very close to the destruction section. Burial gifts were not found with the bodies. Other: Object made from bitumen were found. These are pieces of small rings. Considering the fact that the Batman region is the patrol production area today; it is natural to encounter bitumen in the site. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: Both the surface and excavation results show that the Neolithic culture of Demirköy belongs to a period later than Hallan Çemi and earlier than the round planned buildings phase of Çayönü. It is suggested that the site chronogically follows Hallan Çemi and the occupation of Demirköy represents the relocation of Hallan Çemi after it was abandoned. The future excavations will clear the dating and other uniidentified finds. |
