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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Dündartepe |
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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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80 m |
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Region:
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Black Sea |
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Province:
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Samsun |
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District:
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Merkez |
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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 II EBA III |
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| Location: The site lies approximately 3 km southeast of Samsun; almost inside the modern city; on the slope sloping down to Merd River. |
| Geography and Environment: The 220x200 m mound was split into two by Samsun-Sivas Railway. The northern and northwestern slopes of the 15 m high mound are steep. Surrounded by gardens; the site is located in a watery area. The northern and northeastern edges of the railway fissure are high. The mound is also known as "Öksürüktepe" (Öksürükdede); because it is believed that the saint on the hill offers healing to the sick children. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was excavated in 1940-41 by a team under K. Kökten; N. Özgüç and T. Özgüç. The excavation was carried out in the flat area due to the damage caused during the railway construction; on the slope facing the road and top hill. The excavation team was mainly concerned with figuring out the relationship between the prehistoric cultures of the Black Sea and the Central Anatolia and Marmara regions. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: The flat area where the upper levels were demolished by the removal of the soil has laid out the settlement of Chalcolithic Age while the top hill immediately yielded an EBA layer. On the slopes; the upper part is identified as Hittite Period by the excavators followed by an EBA layer. The EBA layers on the top hill and the slopes belong to different phases of EBA. Although it was not certainly proposed; presence of two phases can be suggested. The EBA culture of the mound is called Dündartepe Culture II. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: The 15x13 m trench on the top hill revealed that EBA layers continued even until 3.8 m deep. A stone walkway uncovered at 85 cm and remains of a four-cornered house at 3.4 m are the most significant architectural remains. The house was built by fence in wattle and daub without any stone foundation; and the fence walls were protected by a thick plaster.The floor is of clay. It is claimed that the wooden ruins recovered from the foundation section expose the presence of wooden foundations [Kökten et al 1945:370]. The roof is not flat. This building level underwent a massive fire. Charred plaster residues and uneven fragments of mudbrick were recovered. No architectural remains were mentioned for the layer on the slope. Pottery: The upper levels of the top hill (?) yielded intact vessels and sherds of the handmade; grit tempered brown ware with red exterior and interior surfaces. The exteriorly and interiorly red sherds are poor in number. Thin walled vessels were produced more elaborately and burnished as if they were polished. Forms resemble the EBA vessels of Central Anatolia. The ones with rims projected like a tongue are specific to Dündartepe. The vessels were decorated in four types; incision; relief; groove and white painting [Kökten et al 1945:371; pl.II/1; III/5]. White painted pottery lessens from 3.5 m. The white paint was applied on black surface by brush very carefully. They are decorated with geometrical patterns. Only a few number of sherds painted in red on a black surface are found. Some of the black and red colored sherds are observed to bear white fillings in the grooves on the surface. Fish-bone pattern is the most popular decoration. The slope layer yielded sherds of the handmade; grit and plant tempered; interiorly and exteriorly red; exteriorly black and interiorly red or vice versa; burnished ware. They are nail impressed and groove decorated. Groove decoration was rather applied on burnished vessels. There are strap handles. Forms of dish; beaker and pithos are common. The excavators compare them with the EBA ware of Alacahöyük; Alisar and Pazarli. Clay: Among the clay finds recovered both from the top hill and slope trenches; fragments identified as brush; idols and animal figurines are important. An idol resembling the idol of Ahlatlibel and a broken idol washed in bright gray evidence the relationship between the Anatolian and Balkan cultures. Loomweights found in mass expose the presence of a weaving industry. Chipped Stone: Blades chipped into flint and chalcedony comprises the major group of this industry. Ground Stone: Among the serpentine axes are both flat and shaft-holed samples. Hammer axes are interesting. The millstones and grinding stones expose that the inhabitants favoured grain cereals in their nutritional economy. The narrow river valley next to the Meriç River has fields suitable for cropping. Bone/Antler: Deer horn; pig tooth and awls carved into the long bones of various animals were found. Although it is unknown what the hammers in deer bone are used for; they are suggested to be used for leather treatment. Another specific find of Dündartepe is the spindle whorls in bone. Metal: Dündartepe is the first findspot proving the richness of the metallic finds of Black Sea Region during EBA. Both the top hill trench and the slope trench yielded tools as well as weapons. Aside weapons like spear (spear head) and dagger (tang of dagger); chisel and flat axe were recovered. Also found are spiral earrings and simple types of pins. All the objects mentioned hereinabove are of copper/bronze. No golden or silver finds were recovered. Human Remains: Except a child's skeleton; 6-7 years old; recovered under the floor of a house; no skeletons were found [Özgüç 1948:57] [French 1968:264]. The inhabitants were probably buried in an extramural cemetery. Fauna: Mussel shells recovered in mass layers on the top hill trench expose that an important food of the people of Dündartepe which is very near the shore was mussels. Even tough bones of terrestrial animals were found; no detailed information is provided. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The EBA settlement uncovered on the top hill is reported to be a small one; and finds of this settlement are a little distinctive from the EBA settlement discovered on the slope [Kökten et al. 1945:377]. Yet; it is possible to relate those two layers particularly in regard to the forms of the pottery. The excavators hesitated to make definite interpretations; they even accepted the two layers as contemporary to each other [Kökten et al. 1945:376]. However; the top hill yields a white painting decorated culture while the slope reveals a groove decorated culture. The link that will generate a relation between the two trenches was not opened. On the basis of those finds and the finds of Ikiztepe excavation; the EBA settlement on the slope is dated to the transition period from EBA III to MBA while the settlement on the top hill to the EBA II-IIIa [Yakar 1985a:245]. The excavation of Ikiztepe yielded information that necessitated a re-evaluation of the excavation results of Dündartepe. Since it is; now; located within the territory of Samsun city; it is difficult to protect the site; therefore the excavations should be started at once. |
