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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Sirkeli |
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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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Mediterranean |
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Province:
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Adana |
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District:
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Ceyhan |
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Village:
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Sirkeli |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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| Location: It is situated on ancient trade routes both in east-west and in south-north directions, in Sirkeli Village of Ceyhan 40 km east of Ceyhan District in Adana [Novak et al. 2009:297]. |
| Geography and Environment: Ceyhan River that runs through Sirkeli Village, ancient Bagdat railway, the modern motorway and Middle Age Yilan Fortress point out at the importance of the location of the mound [Novak et al. 2009:297]. |
| History: The excavations performed before 2006 proved that the mound was inhabited uninterruptedly from Chalcolithic to late Hellenistic period. But the mound stratification was not performed [Novak et al. 2009:298]. |
| Research and Excavation: The first excavations at Sirkeli Höyük were performed in 1936 by J. Garstang. A member of Garstang team, M.V. Seton-Williams excavated Sirkeli Höyük as part of Cilicia Survey performed in 1951. Excavations were performed between 1992-1996 by B. Hrouda of Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet München, and in 1997 by H. Ehringhaus of Innsbruck University. Excavations were interrupted as of 1997 and resumed in 2006 by the cooperation of Eberhard Karls Tübingen University's Asia Minor Archaeology Department, and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University's Archaeology Department [Novak et al. 2009:298]. It is listed in the inventory of registered preservation zones prepared by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. |
| Stratigraphy: As a result of the studies, 5 levels and 9 phases were determined in Area A [Novak-Kozal 2015:3]. Phase A9: Level V (LBA I) Phase A8 and A7: Level IV (Middle and Early IA / LBA II) (Structure A1) Phase A6 and A5: Level III (IA) (Structure A3) Phase A4, A3, and A2: Level II (Hellenistic) (Structure A2 or structures) Phase A1: Level I: Modern |
| Small Finds: Architecture: In 2006, it was found that the building constructed in 'Section A' during Late Bronze Age was later used following the construction of additional buildings during Iron Age [Novak et al. 2009:299]. During the studies which has been conducted since 2006, 5 levels were discovered. In Level A3 dated to Late IA, dwellings were encountered. The walls of the buildings were built with mudbrick on stone foundation and the floors consist of compacted clay. In the center of the trench, the oval shaped oven with a width of 75 cm, which was partially exposed in 2008, was continued to excavate in 2011 [Novak-Kozal 2013:413]. The 2012 excavations were carried out in three different areas. Area A and C is located in the plateau, while Area D is situated in the citadel. During the studies conducted in Area A, architectural remains and findings belonging to Middle IA, Late IA and Hellenistic periods were found. The continuation of the north wall (M34) of the Structure A belonging to Level A4 dated to Middle IA was exposed. This wall extends in the east-west direction. It was observed that the wall reaches 7 m along the north slope. The height of the wall is 1.5 m. Since the wall continues towards the section, the plan of the building in this section could not yet been clarified. The walls located to the north of this wall have been damaged due to erosion and pits belonging to the later periods. To the northeast of the area, architectural remains, which could be defined as a tower or gate, related to this wall were encountered. In Level A3 dated to Late IA, the remains have been severely damaged by the Hellenistic structures. Two phases (namely A3a and A3b) belonging to Level A3 were determined. Two floors related to both phases were excavated. However, the stone foundations of the buildings were not completely preserved. It was determined that one of the building had three rooms. The buildings belonging to these phases were built with mud brick walls on stone foundation. In Area C, the studies carried out in the courtyard of the Structure C1. Below the Structure 1, which is presumed that it measures 60x60 m, earlier phases were reached. Medium sized stones, regularly spread to the area, were encountered. It was suggested that these stones belonged to the foundation of the courtyard or eroded walls (Level C2). Wall foundations and floors were encountered below this stone layer (70 cm below the surface). The findings recovered from this level named as C3 were dated to Late IA. In Level C3, two phases (C3a and C3b) were determined. Both phases were dated to Late IA based on the pottery. It was observed that the remains that were found during the geomagnetic studies belong to a single complex. The complex consists rooms located around a central courtyard. It is in rectangular plan. It was suggested that the complex functioned as a palace or temple. In probably Hellenistic or Roman period, ditches were dug in order to remove the stones of the walls. Therefore, remains belonging to IA below this layer were destructed. This structure might have been used during IA as well. A whole Cyprus type vessel was found within the clay fill. Based on the preliminary results, the structure was dated to IA II. In this area, the floor level has not yet been reached. However, it was observed that the walls continue deeper. A potsherd belonging to LBA recovered from the fill in the north of the area suggests that the walls might have been built in LBA [Novak-Kozal 2014:429-432]. In 2013, the studies were carried out in the plateau (Area A), the highest point of the mound (Area D) and the southeast lower city (Area F). The excavations conducted in Area A so far yielded 5 levels and 9 building levels. In this area, the building levels A5 and A6 belonging to Level III have been destructed by Hellenistic levels. The remains dated to IA consist of wall remains and pits (Structure A3). The fill containing wall foundation, lime plastered floor and collapsed mudbrick walls belonging to these building levels were exposed in 2013. The wall dated to IA belongs to a large courtyard. It is about 7 m in length. In Area D, two parallel walls belonging to a large building, which was used in IA as well, and a corridor-like room were unearthed. Two floors belonging to two separate phases were found in this room. LBA potsherds found below the floor at the bottom indicate that the lower phases of the building are dated to LBA. Two-sectioned room was exposed in the south of the corridor-like room. The floor belonging to the last phase of the building is dated to MBA. To the south of this room, floors with pebbles located on top of each other were exposed. The uppermost floor is related to a channel. The potsherds found on the floors indicate that this area belonged to Middle IA. In Area F, the area in which the inner city wall and city gate are located was excavated. It is seen that the wall has five different phases. The latest phase is dated to Middle IA. The level belonging to Middle IA yielded two floors [Novak-Kozal 2015]. Pottery: Similarity is observed between the Iron Age sherds revealed in upper layers according to the base, and Cyprus pottery. "Bichrome", "Red-on-Black" and "White Painted" ware groups were frequently unearthed. Although it was thought that these groups which have similarities with Cyprus ware, could have been imported or these were imitations of this ware group, this was not ascertained. Besides the painted vessels presence of monochrome and red coated ware groups was frequently observed [Novak et al. 2009:300-301]. Except the specimens resemble to Cyprus wares, plain wares and cooking pots show traditional features and Assyrian influence. Plain wares are the dominant ware group among IA pottery. Carinated bowls with flaring rims resemble the bowls known from the Late Assyrian settlements. Plain wares are generally mineral tempered. Specimens with chaff tempered are very few. All the cooking pots are made out of only mineral tempered ware group [Novak-Kozal 2013:416]. LBA and IA potsherds found in 2012 were recovered from the IA and Hellenistic fills. IA II pottery exposed in Area A comprises red slipped vessels related to Levant region and Cyprus type light colored wares with painted decoration (White Painted, Bichrome). The pottery belonging to IA III, on the other hand, consists of plain wares. Among this group, there are bowls, jars and amphorae. In Area C, wares bearing the characteristics of Levant, Cyprus and Assyria were recovered. Area D yielded two rims belonging to the Late Hellas IIIC. These sherds are dated to Early IA. IA II pottery comprises painted and plain wares [Novak-Kozal 2014:433]. Clay: There is a remarkable sample of a statuette head that was dated to Middle Iron Age. Eyes and ears were applicated but the left eye and the ear had fallen of. The statuette has a long neck, a conical head and a highly projected chin which may be identified as beard [Novak et al. 2009:301]. In 2012, Area A yielded loom weights, spindle whorls and statuettes. The loom weights are in rectangular, round conical and biconical forms. One of the spindle whorls, which is with a diameter of 4.6 cm and a weight of 51 gr, bears incised decoration in the shape of a fish. One of the weights is in crescent shape. It bears an impression of seal and both tips have holes. It is 235 gr in weight [Novak-Kozal 2014:432]. Chipped Stone: In Area, flint and obsidian tool were found [Novak-Kozal 2014:432]. Ground Stone: The Area A yielded ground stones, burnishers and hammer stones [Novak-Kozal 2014:432]. Bone / Antler: A zigzag decoration was applied on a needle like object found in Area A [Novak-Kozal 2014:432]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: The excavations conducted in Sirkeli Mound indicate that the settlement was in contact with different regions of Anatolia, Syria, Mesopotamia and Cyprus during Bronze and Iron Age. The fact that LBA wares showing Central Anatolian characteristics and MBA wares bearing both Cyprus and Assyrian characteristics points interzonal relations. The findings recovered from the settlement indicate that the settlement shares the similar culture with Mersin-Yumuktepe, Mersin-Soli, Tarsus-Gözlükule, Tatarli Höyük and Kinet Höyük which represent Plain Cilicia cultures [Novak-Kozal 2013: 417]. |
