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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Kaman Kalehöyük |
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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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1060 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Kirsehir |
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District:
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Kaman |
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Village:
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Çagirkan |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: It lies next to the former Ankara-Kayseri motorway; 3 km east-northeast of the Kaman District; northwest of the Kirsehir Province. |
| Geography and Environment: To the eastern and western feet flow small streams running to the north. It is located in a fertile land. Being one of the biggest mounds in the region; it measures 16 m in height and 280 m in diameter. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It has been excavated since 1986 under the direction of S. Omura on behalf of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan and Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology. |
| Stratigraphy: The excavations yielded 4 layers and several building levels related with these layers. Based on the 1999 campaign, the four layers are as follows; Layer I: Ottoman Period dating to the 16th-17th century AD Layer II: Iron Age lasting from the 12th century BC to the second half of the 4th century BC; it divides into levels IIa, IIb, IIc, and IId [Omura 2008:8]. Layer III: Middle and Late Bronze Ages lasting from the 20th century BC to the 12th century BC Layer IV: Five building levels related with the EBA layer were identified during the 2001 campaign. The building level IVa represents transition from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Bronze Age. |
| Small Finds: Architecture: Levels IIa and IIc divide into two phases. Based on sherds and mountain crystal seal found in 1989 level IIa, phase 1 was under oriental influence at Kaman-Kalehöyük. Structures of level IIc- phase 1 contain cellars [Omura 2008:8]. During 1990s excavations a megaron planned large building with two rooms and the architectural remains of a corridor shaped 10-20 m long structure with 2.5 m thick walls constructed with block stones that surrounds the large building from 4th Century BC were encountered. Many similar type structures are unearthed during the excavations carried out in the South and North fields of Kaman-Fort mound. These buildings are not strong and it is believed that they are built in a hurry in a very short time without much care. During the excavations held in 2009 an attempt is made to remove the roughly constructed remains from Level IIa. Before the construction of these corridors the ground is excavated for about 1.5 m and after two steady rows are laid in the foundation, debris and soil are used to fill between the blocks. Two round pits are encountered right in the middle of a corridor. The age of Level IIc is determined as 8th Century BC and the age of Level IId is determined as 11th, 10th and 9th Centuries BC. In 2007 it is observed that Level IIc has three different phases. During 2009 the excavation is concentrated in the first architecture level of Level IIc. Majority of the architecture remains in Architecture Level I are subterranean. During the excavations of the base of this architecture remains, benches around the walls and a pit right in the middle of the basement are encountered. The subterranean spaces unearthed are believed to be used as depots. The architectural characteristic of Level IId is that the buildings are single roomed, and that pole marks exist on their basements, and that the building has undergone a fire [Omura 2011: 422-423]. The 2010 excavations were carried out in rooms numbered R161; which was reused by adding walls in three phases; and R146 in Trench LVI in Level IId dated to Early IA. In Room 150, a burnt floor with collapsed burnt wooden fragments was unearthed. 3 hearths which were contemporary with the room were discovered. 9 different post holes which were thought to be used at the same time with the room were found on the floor of the room. The post holes were placed parallel with the walls of the room. In Trench LVII, the south and the east walls of Room R150 belonging to Level IId were discovered. A burnt floor with burnt wooden fragments was found inside the room. No trace of a fire was found on the floor of Room R160 in Trench XXVII. The room R166 underwent a fire and collapsed burnt wooden fragments were recovered on its floor [Omura 2012:449-452]. It is revealed that the architectural remains, exposed in the northern trenches (Trench XVIII, XIX and XX) during the previous seasons, show no particular plan. During the 2013 excavation conducted in Trench XX, a quadrangular mudbrick hearth was exposed in the center of Room R426. Another hearth with two sections, resting against the wall W23, was found at the west corner of the room. A heart in similar type was exposed below the hearth in the center. The floors of these hearths were paved twice with potsherds. A mould made out of sand stone, melting pots and a lot of slag fragment were found next to the hearth. In the side room, a hearth with four sections was exposed. All these remains show that this structure and the area were used as workshop during Period IIa. In the South Trench, two building levels belonging to IIc were determined. The building level 1 yielded a large complex building. Two siloi in rectangular form were found. These siloi yielded carbonized wheat remains. The buildings belonging to the building level 2 have basement. These buildings damaged the remains of the building level 1. In the building level 2, a painted pitcher and an intact iron dagger were found. Five building levels belonging to Level IId (Late IA) were determined. Some of these building levels underwent a fire. The architectural remains of Level IId have been damaged by the pits and the buildings with basement belonging to Level IIc. Therefore, it is not possible to understand the plan of these buildings. In this level, a Hittite seal was found. A similar seal was recovered from the North Trench in Level IId as well. It is possible to say that these kinds of seals were used after Hittite Empire [Omura 2015]. The 2014 studies were conducted in the building level 4-1 IIa. A fire layer was determined in the south of the walls. This fire layer also continues towards the east section of the north trench [Omura 2016:382]. Pottery: Many painted pieces of pottery are captured in the first level of Level IIc in 2009. The potteries representing Level IIc are decorated with stylized deer motives similar to many that captured in Alisar IV. Handmade pottery pieces are captured in Level IId. However no pieces with stylized deer motives are encountered in this level. Pottery pieces from Level IIIa, i.e. from Hittite Empire, are captured in Level IId [Omura 2011: 422-423]. During the 2010 excavations, 10 unbaked weights were found on the mudbrick bench discovered on the south of H162 in Level IId [Omura 2012:450]. Fauna: Several dog skeletons were yielded inside pits identified in southern part of long stone wall found at level IIa during 2007 excavations [Omura 2009:200]. The metal workshop discovered in 2013 yielded painted potsherds dated to the 8th century BC that is the building level IIc. In the fire layer, the potsherds belonging to Early IA were found. During the 2014 studies, painted potsherds, a very well burnished bowl, grey wares, a teapot with a handle and a red slipped bowl were found [Omura 2016:382, 385]. Other: Among the findings captured in 2009 excavations are bronze arrow heads, needles, pincettes and fibulas [Omura 2011: 423]. The 2014 studies yielded spindle whorls, spoons, bronze seals, bronze arrowheads, bronze fibulae, glass beads and a foot-shaped carnelian seal [Omura 2016:385]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: As a typical Central Anatolian mound, Kaman-Kalehöyük gives important data about the period beginning from Neolithic to Ottoman Period [Omura 2009:201]. |
