©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Oluz Höyük

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Oluz Höyük
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 479 m
Region:
 Black Sea
Province:
 Amasya
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Toklucak
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:

     

Location: It is situated in Gökhöyük Agricultural Works Directorate's land at the 27th km of Amasya-Çorum motorway within Amasya borders. It is 2 km northwest of Gözlek Village, and 5 km east of Toklucak (Oluz) Village. It is located 3 km south of Amasya-Çorum motorway. It is also known as Yassi Höyük and Tepetarla Höyük [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:87].
Geography and Environment: It is situated in the abundant Geldingen Plain where Çekerek River (Zuliya in Hittite texts, ancient Skaylaks) one of the important tributaries of Yeşilirmak (ancient name Iris) runs to the south of the plain [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:87].
History:
Research and Excavation: It was discovered by S. Dönmez during the survey performed between 1997-1999. On the other hand von der Osten mentioned that he had performed a survey before initiating Alisar Höyük excavation between 1926-1927, west of Kizilirmak and on the meander, within the scope of the survey performed around Amasya, and paid a visit to a large mound on the edge of Olas Plain, but there is no mention on the details of the mound. This must have been Oluz Höyük [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:87]. The excavations initiated on the mound in 2007 under the authorization of Cultural Assets and Museums General Directorate of Culture and Tourism Ministry are being conducted by S. Dönmez.
Stratigraphy: Presence of EBA, MBA, LBA, Iron Age and Hellenistic Period settlements was observed during survey. Nine building levels were identified during 2007 excavations [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:95]. Based on the studies conducted in 2014, the revised stratigraphy as follows: Level "0": Middle Age 10th-14th centuries Level 1: Hellenistic Period 200-47 BC Level 2A: Late Phase of Late IA (Achaemenid) 300-200 BC Level 2B: Late Phase of Late IA (Achaemenid) 425-300 BC Level 3: Late Phase of Late IA (Phryg and Achaemenid) 500-425 BC Level 4A: Late Phase of Late IA (Late Phrygian) 550-500 BC Level 4B: Late Phase of Late IA (Late Phrygian) 600-550 BC Level 5A: Middle IA (Classical Phrygian) the first half of the 7th century BC Level 5B: Middle IA (Classical Phrygian) the second half of the 7th century BC Level 6A: Middle IA (Early and Classical Phrygian) 8th century BC Level 6B: Middle IA (Early and Classical Phrygian) 9th century BC Level 7A: Early IA (Dark Age) 11th-10th century BC Level 7B: Early IA (Dark Age) 12th century BC Level 8: LBA (Great Kingdom Period) 13th century BC Level 9: LBA (Great Kingdom Period) 15th-14th century BC Level 10: EBA the mid 3rd millennium BC [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:291-292].
Small Finds: The area Oluz Höyük covers is approximately 45 decares it measures 280x260 m, it has a near-circular shape, its height from plain level is approximately 15 m. Excavations were performed in 2007 at two separate trenches. Trench A is at the highest spot and west of the mound. Trench B is located on the slope on the east side. Architecture: A building structure located north of trench A is the sturdiest building remain of building level 2. The building has an 8.6 m long wall foundation lying in north-south direction, and another 2 m long wall cuts it near the south end to form a corner. The walls were built by applying mud mortar to small and large unchipped stones. Also a stone pavement built with flat stones was unearthed adjacent and east of the longer wall [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:92]. Trench B contains building remains with unidentified plan since levels 2-3 and 4 were destroyed. A patio was discovered in level 5 which possibly belongs to a residence [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:93-94]. As a result of the 2008 excavations inside the trench A 3 architectural levels and 11 graves were revealed. The remains inside the architectural level 1 which went through massive destruction are scattered and disordered. So is the architectural level 2, where architectural remains consist of basic structures and stone floor coverings. The rubble stones used inside the buildings were either partially chipped or not worked at all. The walls were composed using basic mud mortar. Inside level 3 neatly planed adobe brick wall remains were revealed. Another level was found in addition to the 6 architectural levels that were detected at trench B on the east slope of the mound in 2007. Very weak stone walls without any identifiable plan were unearthed inside architectural level 6, and a very short stone wall was revealed inside architectural level 7. Both levels were destroyed through slope's erosions. Three architectural levels were identified inside trench C. Two stone walls extending in east-west direction, a floor covering's remains, a rubbish hole were identified inside architectural level 1, remains of a stone paved street in northeast-southwest direction were identified inside building level 2, a semi-circular planned building's remains built with unworked rubble stones were identified inside building level 3. Trench D yielded only one single building level. At this level remains of a rubble stone building in north-south direction were identified [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2010:381-387]. 4 architecture layers and 13 graves are encountered during the excavations carried out in Trench A in 2009. Layer I has undergone a heavy destruction and the architecture remains unearthed here are far from presenting a regular plan consisting of wall foundation parts made of debris stones of various sizes and flood remains. In Architecture Layer 2 a structure remains constructed in North-South direction and monumental architecture remains are unearthed. Remains of a large road made of stone paving technique exist right below Architecture Layer 1. The most well preserved structure of Architecture Layer 3 is the stone founded remains of an adobe walled structure which has a square-like plan. Remains of a large building are encountered in Architecture Layer 4. In 2009 one more layer is identified which increased the total number of layers to 8 in Trench B. A stone founded and adobe walled structure is unearthed in Architecture Layer 7 which have two rooms at least. A 1.60 m long and 0.70 m wide stone channel in West-East direction and a round-planned plastered base is excavated [Dönmez 2011: 94-99]. In 2010, a stone-socled structure with stone and mudbrick walls belonging to the architectural layer 4 was unearthed in Trench A. The structure in rectangular plan was built in N-S direction. The east wall of the structure forms a corner by turning to the east. There is a rectangular shaped alcove on the east wall. The structure is filled with debris. Also, remains of 3 ovens were found in this structure. The remains recovered on the south of the courtyard which is bordered with mudbrick walls indicate that the courtyard was covered with stones. Thin wall remains found in the middle of the courtyard suggest that there might be storage-like units in this area. The number of architectural layers in Trench B increased to 9. Mudbrick wall remains belonging to the architectural layer 8 and the layer which underwent a fire were discovered. In Trench E, a long wall in NW-SE direction belonging to the architectural layer 2 was found. At the southeast corner of the trench, another wall remains extend in the same direction with the one mentioned above was unearthed [Dönmez 2012:138-142]. During 2011 studies, remains of a building and some wall and pavement fragments were discovered in the building level 2A. The north-south wall of this building is 2.50 m long and 0.60 m thick and the west-east wall measures 2.40 m in length and 0.50 m in thickness. To approx. 1.00 m north of this cornered building remain, remains of a stone pavement with a length of 4.25 m and a width of 1.50 m (max.) are located. The foundation of a stone wall with a length of 4.00 m and a thickness of 0.60 m was found about 1.20 m east of this pavement remain. This foundation extends in the north-south direction. There is a long mudbrick wall located in K 12 plan square in the north of the pavement and wall foundation mentioned above. The wall extends in the northwest-southeast direction and it measures 7.55 m in length and 1.00 m (max.) in thickness. In the center of the west section, the wall is angled with the help of a short wall in the north-south direction. It is observed that the wall has been damaged by rubbish pits. In the area in the west of this wall, in the south half of the J 12 plan square, a rectangular planned building remain with simple stone foundation was found. This building remain has been damaged and its northeast side is named as b.1040. Remains belonging to a stone pavement were exposed in the west of this building. The building extending the north-south direction measures 4.00x2.75 m and the wall thickness is about 0.50 m. The pavement remain found in the west of this building measures 2.00x1.75 m. 12 plain earth graves were discovered in the fill. During the studies conducted in the building level 2B, a monumental entrance building was discovered in the north of the area where the monumental road ends. A multi-roomed building was exposed in the east of this entrance building. 16 plain earth graves were found in the fill. Apart from the damaged wall remains with stone foundation, no architectural remains were encountered in the building level 3. In the building level 4, it is noteworthy that the main section of the stone building, which has a complex architecture with multiple phase, is with stone foundation and wall. Quite large stones were used in the foundation section. This building in rectangular plan measures 4.50x3.75 m and it was built in the north-south direction. Additions were made in the north and the west walls of the the main building and in this way, the building was enlarged towards the south. Both walls are with stone foundation and made out of mudbrick. The wall in the west is with a length of 3.00 m and a thickness of 0.50 m. The one in the east, on the other hand, is 10.50 m in length and 0.50 m in thickness. The east wall of the building turns to the east and forms an angle. This corner wall is with a length of 2.00 m and a thickness of 0.50 m. There is a large rectangular niche on the east wall of the main building in rectangular plan. The niche measures 1.75x1.50 m [Dönmez 2013:67-72]. In 2012, remains of a large stone pavement and wall foundation were exposed in the northern half of the plan square L 12 belonging to the building level 2A. This stone pavement, which is a length of 4.60 m and a width of 2.55 m, was built with worked and semi-worked rubble stones. Stone wall foundation, located to the east of the stone pavement, extends in the northeast-southwest direction. In the plan square K 11, foundation remains of a structure and a stone pavement related to this structure were unearthed. The structure extends in the northeast-southwest direction and the foundation itself measures 4.10x3.20 m. The stone pavement, which joins to the south and west of this structure, measures 5.55x3.30 m. This stone pavement was built with worked and semi-worked stones. To the north of this pavement, a mudbrick platform extending in the northeast-southwest direction was exposed. The platform is 0.15 m in height and it measures 1.75x0.95 m. In the northeast corner of the plan square K 10, a stone foundation was found. The structure was built in the northeast-southwest direction. It has two rooms and measures 6.50 m in length and 5.75 m in width. It was built with worked and semi-worked rubble stones. It was revealed that the oven, discovered in the plan square K 9 in the previous seasons, extends in the west-east direction and has two sections. The mouth of it faces to the east. It measures 2 m in length and 1.50 m in width. The wall thickness of oven is 0.15 m. It is believed that the oven had a round dome. To the north of the plan squares J 13 and K 14 belonging to the building level 2B, remains of a foundation extending in the northwest-southeast direction and pavement remains were found. These remains were built with mudbrick. The studies conducted in the plan square K 11 yielded an entrance hall. This structure has a stone pavement extending in the northwest-southeast direction. It has 2 column bases. In the plan square k 10, remains of structures were exposed. One of the structures has two rooms. Bothros (the pit in which the votives were inhumed) was found in the southern half of the plan square. This pit measures 1.30 m in diameter and 0.70 m in depth. It yielded a rhyton in the form of ibex, potsherds and astragaloi (knucklebone). In the plan square K 9, a clay-plastered floor with a length of 3.30 m and a width of 2.10 m was exposed. The studies carried out in the plan square L8 yielded a rectangular planned stone pavement that was neatly built. This pavement extending in the northwest-southeast direction measures 6.25x1.90 m. In the building level 3, two graves were found. One of these graves is a simple earth grave and the other one is jar burial. In both graves, remains belonging to infants were found. An iron blade was put on one of these burials' arms. In the plan square K 7 belonging to the building level 4, remains of a structure and courtyard were exposed. The east wall of the structure measures 1.75 m; the north wall is 2.20 m in length. The approximate thickness of these walls is 0.50 m. Three posts were found at the corners of the courtyard. To the north of the plan square K 7, a silo with a length of 1.10 m, a width of 0.75 m and a depth of 0.40 m was discovered [Dönmez-Yurtsever Beyazit 2014]. In 2013, the corner of a structure was exposed in the area in which the plan square I 17 meets the plan square I 18 in the building level 2A. The structure extends in the east-west direction. A baked clay bead and a bronze coin were recovered from the structure. In the building level 2B, remains of pavement indicating that the Persian Road continues towards the south were exposed. It is believed that the closed channel unearthed in the south section of the plan square I 17 is related to the substructure of Persian Road. There is a neatly dressed rectangular stone in the west of the north section of the channel. The upper section of the channel is covered with small stones. The channel measures 1.90x1.10 m. Remains of stone pavement indicating that the Persian Road continues towards the south were built with rough and semi-worked rubble stones. Rest of the pavement was exposed in the south. To the north face of this stone pavement, a rounded fire pit was found. This pit measures 1.15 in diameter and 0.70 m in depth. It was built with rubble stones and bricks. Inside the pit, a high density of burnt ash and carbonized wooden pieces were found. It is suggested that this pit had a religious function since it is located on the Persian Road. It should be related to the fire cult. Two vessels found near the surface of the pit show that it was used as bothros when it lost its function. In the building level 4A, rubbish pits, remains of stone foundation and mudbrick pavement were found. During the building level 4B excavations carried out around the Temple of Kubaba, a pithos was exposed. The bottom of this pithos is rounded and it has a hole in the center. A semi-worked bone was inserted into this hole. This bone belongs to metacarpus of a donkey. The building level 5 excavations were conducted in the plan square K 7. This level yielded remains of wall foundation, compacted soil floors and rubbish pits. In the same plan square, remains of a hearth and rubbish pits belonging to the building level 6 were exposed [Dönmez-Beyazit 2015]. In 2014, the excavations continued in the levels opened in the previous seasons. Architectural remains, concentrated on the western half of the plan square M 10 belonging to Level 2A, were exposed. Stone pavement and wall remains extending in the north-south direction were determined in the southwest corner. The remains of wall foundations and pavement fragments were highly damaged. In Level 6A, pavements belonging to a building showing good craftsmanship were exposed. However, these remains were severely damaged. The large stones used in the north wall are noteworthy. The interior section of the building was carefully paved with stone and the floor was plastered with high quality clay. In Level 7A, two stone groups in the center of the compressed earth floor are probably related to posts supporting a pentice-like structure [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:283; 287-288]. Pottery: In 2007, findings, which were considered important due to their features were revealed in building level 2, during excavations in trenches A and B. The first one is a special vessel in the form of a woman's breast. Has a tip with a hole possibly serving as a feeding bottle but its relation to Kybele Cult was speculated. Besides that various bowls in dark red coating and S profiles are remarkable and remind of Achaemenid bowls due to their forms. Another find is the neck and body sections of a very large crater. A cloud figure and antelope figures' heads facing each other with exaggerated and unusually depicted antlers which are unmatched in any of Central Anatolian Iron Age pottery were observed on the neck of the crater. The crater was decorated with tones of brown over light background. Both artifacts were found in the debris of building level 2, but based on decoration features these date to 5th-6th centuries. These were possibly carried along with the deposit of illicit diggings. Although a beak-spouted jug revealed in building level 4 is familiar in terms of its form, its decoration, lack of light color spaces on the surface and its dark brown decorations over buff background, made with concentric circles and swastikas. Button formed stone seal with perforated lug yielded in building level 6 is a remarkable find that has Hittite culture features [Dönmez- Naza Dönmez 2009:96-97]. In 2010, 1 baked clay askos, 7 amphora stoppers, 3 net weights, 3 spindle whorls, 1 counting tablet, 1 rhyton sherd were found in the fill of the architectural layer 2. 4 baked clay amphora stoppers, 3 spindle whorls, 1 bowl and 1 jar were recovered from the fill of the architectural layer 2 of the plan squares of J17 and K17.12 amphora stoppers, 1 body sherd belonging to a pitcher or a jar with bird motif were found in the architectural layer 4. In the fill of the architectural layer 2 of Trench F, 1 baked clay amphora stopper and 1 bowl were recovered [Dönmez 2012:138-142]. During the 2014 studies, 1 jar and 2 pitchers from Level 2A and a sherd with a relief decoration from Level 2B were found [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286]. Clay: In 2007 excavations various objects such as terra cotta spindle whorls, loom weights were found at different building levels. Ground Stone: In 2010, 1 grinding stone, 1 ground stone, 2 flint cutting tools, 1 stone lion figurine were found in the fill of the architectural layer 2 in Trench A. In the fill of the architectural layer 2 of the plan squares of J17 and K17, there are 2 stone beads, 2 flint cutting tools and 3 scrapers. A fragment of stone statuette, 3 flint cutting tools and 1 scraper were recovered in the fill of the architectural layer 4. 1 flint cutting tool and 1 whetstone were found in the fill of the architectural layer 2 in Trench F [Dönmez 2012:138-142]. In 2014, loom weights, spindle whorls and net weights from Level 2A; loom weights, net weights, sling stone from Level 2B; seal, spindle whorl, stopper, and pendant seal from Level 5A; 3 stoppers, reels, spindle whorls from Level 7A; 6 stoppers and a spindle whorl from Level 7B were found [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286, 288-289]. Chipped Stone: In 2014, a great number of flintstone blades were recovered from Level 2A, 2B, 5A and 7A. In addition, an obsidian blade was found in Level 2B [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286, 288-289]. Ground Stone: Level 2B yielded a stone bead in 2014. In Level 5A, a stone stopper was found [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286, 288-289]. Metal: In 2010, 1 bronze arrowhead and 1 fibula were found in the fill of the architectural layer 2 in Trench A. 2 bronze spears were recovered from the fill of the architectural layer 2 of the plan squares of J17 and K17. In the architectural layer 4, 1 bronze fibula, 2 arrowheads, 2 nail heads were found. The fill of the architectural layer 2 of Trench F yielded 1 gold coin and 1 piece of iron gate [Dönmez 2012:138-142]. In 2014, an iron cutter from Level 2A; iron amulets, nail and ring, 1 silver coin, 3 bronze coins, a lead strainer, a wire and a bronze arrowhead from level 2B; a bronze pin from Level 5A; and a lead object from Level 7B were found [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286, 289]. Human Remains: Four adult skeletons were found mixed together in two holes in the north of the patio located in building level 5 of trench B during excavation in 2007. It was observed that these were thrown into the hole rather than placing them as in a regular burial [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2009:94]. Fauna: The 2011 studies yielded 13 piglet skulls that were neatly placed next to the pile formed with medium-sized rubble stones. These skulls were found on the floor that is named b.1118 in the building level 2A [Dönmez 2013:68]. In 2014, 2 fossils from Level 2A; bone object from Level 2B; bone pendant from level 5A; 2 bone pendants and a fossil from Level 7A; and a bone pendant from Level 7B were recovered [Dönmez-Beyazit 2016:284, 286, 288-289].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: The terra cotta amphora yielded inside building level 2 is particularly important due to its assistance in dating the mentioned level. The amphora usually named "Galat" ceramic but being actually a continuation of Iron Age tradition of pottery characterized with its paint decoration having a technically red paint coating and vertical flutes in parallel, and the inelaborateness in its production compared to similar specimens suggest Oluz Mound amphora maybe was locally produced. In the mean time the redish or redish brown coated ware were usually found to be deriving starting with the 3rd architectural level. Another feature of this amphora is that it is a metal vessel imitation. Metal imitation vessels were produced in Central Anatolia and Central Black Sea Region since EBA II (2800-2450 BC). It is an important fact that the Oluz Höyük amphora is the continuation of that tradition. The building level 3 of trench A belongs to Phrygian culture. The adobe architecture of this level is different compared to the architecture formed by somewhat worked rubble stones and boulder stones of previous building levels. Based on the sherds' characteristics yielded in this level and some near Scythian type arrowheads suggest that this building level could be dated to 5th century BC. Trench A is the contemporary of the first 3 building levels inside the trench B and the single building level of trench D and can be dated to 5th century BC. Due to the sherds of building level 4 inside trench B it can be dated to 6th century BC. A paint decorated askos and a grey jug are particularly important due to showing the relation of Oluz Höyük with the real Phrygian culture on the west side of Kizilirmak. Building level 6 points out to Hittite Age [Dönmez-Naza Dönmez 2010:387-392]. After analyzing the coins and pottery pieces captured during 2009 excavations in the first four layers of Trenches A and B it is found out that the four layers are contemporary. And Architecture Layer 3 of Trench C is found to be contemporary with Architecture Layer 3 of Trenches A and B. In this context the age of Layer 0 of Oluz Mound could be from Middle Age, Architecture Layer 1 could be from Hellenistic Age (2nd Century BC Ğ first half of 1st Century BC), Architecture Layer could be from Very Late Iron Age (last quarter of 5th Century BC Ğ 3rd Century BC), Architecture Layer 3 could be from beginning of Late Iron Age (5th Century BC), Architecture Layer 4 could be from beginning of Late Iron Age (6th Century BC). In Trench B the age of Architecture Layer 5 is determined as 7th Century BC and the age of Architecture Layer 6 is determined as 8th Century BC. And the Architecture Layer 7 belongs to Late Bronze Age, i.e. Hittite Empire Period (15th Ğ 13th Centuries BC). And it can be suggested that Architecture Layer 8 is roughly from Early Bronze Age (4th Ğ 3rd Millennium BC) after an analysis of pottery pieces [Dönmez 2011: 99]. 9 architectural layers in total were discovered as a result of the 2010 excavation campaign. The studies on coins and potsherds recovered from the site show that the first layers of Trench E and Trench F; the first four layer of Trench A and Trench B are contemporary with each other. Based on the researches on stone mould, flint tools and potsherds, the architectural layer 9 is roughly dated to EBA (4th and 3rd millennium BC) [Dönmez 2012:142-143]. Based on the architectural levels which were rearranged during the 2011 campaign, Oluz Mound was a Late IA city of the Kaska country which was under the influence of Phrygian culture. Plain or painted wares which bear Late Phrygian characteristics, an ivory stamp seal with a scene depicting the struggle between lion and gazelle on its print side and the lower section of a stone Kubaba figurine clearly shows the Phrygian characteristics of Level 4. In Level 3 dated to 500-425 BC, especially in the origins of the pottery, lastingness of the tradition of the painted decoration and the rising of the plant ornaments and pictorial decors show that pottery workshops were started to be influenced by the new cultural elements of Anatolia. In Level 2 (425-200 BC.), it has been understood that the cultural characteristic of the settlement has began to change in terms architecture, small finds and pottery. In Oluz Mound, radical architectural changes and new understanding have been observed in Level 2B. This change in Level 2B could be related to a community or class of Persian origin who settled in Oluz Mound. The new political formation within the Kizilirmak curve or in the widest sence in Cappadocia directly affected Oluz Mound in terms of small finds, pottery tradition and especially architectural aspects [Dönmez 2012:35-36].


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