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Zincirli

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Zincirli
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 580 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Gaziantep
District:
 Islahiye
Village:
 Zincirli
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:

     

Location: It is located in the Zincirli Village, north of Islahiye District, west of the provincial district of Gaziantep.
Geography and Environment: It is at the intersection near the exit of Fevzipasa train station of Beylan Geçiti, which provides pass over the Amanus mountain range in east-west direction [Özyar 2005:18]; it lies on the west shore of a small swamp in the plain.
History:
Research and Excavation: It was first investigated by Osman Hamdi Bey during his excursion in the Commagene Region in 1883. He unearthed 8 stone relief plates [Özyar 2005:18]. The settlement which is known for its Late Hittite remains was first excavated by K. Humann and R. Koldeway than by F. von Luschan between 1888 and 1902. In 2006, Oriental Institute launched a project called Neubauer which aims to create an understanding on the cultural, economic, political and social structures of the settlement. As a part of the project, J.D. Scholen has been leading the excavations at Zincirli since 2006 [http://www.nationalgeographic.com.tr/ngm/0901/Konu.aspx?Konu=1, 11.02.2019; 10:30]. The reliefs on the orthostats which were part of the building remains attracted the attention of many researchers. Some of these reliefs were unearthed along with the buildings they belong to, and some others were found in fragments next to the buildings mixed with material of later periods or in their foundations. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: Its ancient name is Sam'al in Aramaic, and it is one of the most important metropolises of the Late Hittite Period. As a result of the excavations at Zincirli, it was found out that there is a long sequence of settlements from the Early Bronze Age throughout the Roman Period.
Small Finds: Architecture: It is surrounded by a strong circular double-wall fortification with a diameter of 720 m. A citadel rests on the mound at the center of the city, which was fortified by a second wall [Darga 1992:221]. The circular two concentric wall system that was used in the city is also known from the ancient city of Qadesh (or Kadesh) [Darga 1992:221]. The three gates of the city piercing the outer walls are on the south, west and northeast on a route that runs over the mountains. Thus, the most important trade routes of the region were linked with the center of the Sam'al Kingdom. However, the citadel of Zincirli has only one gate aligned with the South Gate on the outer wall. Both gates communicate via a straight road. No detailed information is available on the architectural design of Zincirli. On the other hand, there is more data about the citadel since the excavations mainly focused on it. The fortification wall of the royal citadel was founded on a mound as a single main wall. On the southern section, there is another inner wall, i.e. a wall dividing the citadel pierced by an "inner gate" at the center. The palatial buildings are accessed through a gate lined by relief carved orthostats. These buildings are situated around a courtyard, and designed as Hilani type of building complexes with a columned portico and the main entrance gate on the oblong wall. It seems that Hilani type of structures were used for the palatial buldings of the city, which was dominated by the Arameans [Darga 1992:273]. The plant decorated column bases under the Phoenician influence are specific to the Aramean period and are dated to 730-700 BC [Darga 1992:297]. There are a series of monumental structures encircling the courtyards inside the citadel. This type of an architectural order which distinguishes the Anatolian city centers from the centers at Mesopotamia since the Hittite Imperial Period continued throughout the Late Hittite Kingdoms Period, being displayed at Zincirli as well. The most remarkable building is the one, which is unknown from the 2nd Millennium, that can be reached by a flight of few steps through an entrance flanked by columns where the main hall is right accross behind the entrance. Such structures are defined as "hilani" in Assyrian sources [Özyar 2005:18]. Statue/Relief: Some orthostats with reliefs were unearthed at the entrance gate of the citadel, south gate of the city, and entrance of some of the hilani type of buildings at Zincirli. Besides them are a colossal king's statue on a base with two lions, some bases that carry the columns of some hilanis and stand alone steles. The animals and fantastic creatures that represent the Zincirli group I (Late Hittite Traditional Style) were depicted in reliefs on the fronts of the orthostats. Overall they have a poor workmanship and a cumbersome appearance. No lines or elements helping to discern the composition are observed among the figures that were arranged on top of each other. The orthostat depictions on the Outer City Gate or South Gate of Citadel at Zincirli describes a tall and slim person, and the bodies are short, the parts under the belly are disproportionate and long. The seated male figures depicted as throwing arrows have long upper bodies. The figures give a strong impression on their feet on the ground. The reliefs were engraved on even surfaces [Darga 1992:232-236]. The body of human figures in Zincirli group II (Late Hittite Style Under Assyrian Influence) were engraved in frontality and profile; both type of depictions are observed on the same orthostat. The male figures, gods and human beings, are depicted wearing short tunics and long dresses. This style, in other words, the influence of the most ancient Assyrian style can be observed on the orthostats found at Outer City Gate or South Gate of Citadel at Zincirli. The wide composition surface is one of the principal characteristics of the Zincirli reliefs [Darga 1992:257]. Among the sculptures included in this group is a large, 3 m high king's statue, which depicts the king of Sam'al, Kilamuva, which was uncovered near the building J. It is a static sculpture of a bearded standing man without any headwear and with a long dress and Assyrian-Aramaic sandals. A hero in the knee-running position subduing two lions was described on the base of the king's sculpture [Darga 1992:263]. The statue was dated to 900 BC., and although it was described as a king sculpture, it is most likely that it is a depiction of a deity standing over the bulls [Özyar 2005:20]. Although it is uncertain to which gate some gate lions and sphinx protomes made of basalt belong, they bear several characteristics that may be dated to the earliest period of the city, i.e. late 10th century BC and early 9th century BC [Özyar 2005:18]. An Assyrian chariot in the reliefs of the South Gate of Citadel is very important in dating this style to the mid-9th century BC. This type of lion reliefs on orthostats were found in situ, facing each other at the doorway of the South Gate of Citadel [Darga 1992:264]. The religious themes are dominant at Zincirli as they were at Carchemis, but no votives and libation scenes were depicted. Furthermore, no inscriptions are observed in the reliefs throughout use of this first style [Darga 1992:265]. The Assyrianized Late Hittite style emerges at Zincirli following the second half of the 9th century BC. An Aramaic style is observed on the orthostats in the palatial structures at Citadel. The King Kilamuva (832-810 BC) relief and its orthostat with Aramaic inscription are very specific to this phase [Darga 1992:273]. These works belong to the buildings of the citadel dated to the second half of the 9th century BC [Özyar 2005:18]. The King is compared to his Assyrian contemporaries with his hair and beard style, outfit, shoes and the lotus flower symbolizing the god [Darga 1992:274]. Another grave stele that belongs to Barrakib who is a Sam'al king that brought prosperity to the city is among the noteworthy Late Hittite and Aramaic works of art. There is a clerk accross the King seating on his throne. His headwear, scarf and pleated dress bear Aramean characteristics [Darga 1992:279]. The reliefs of the Barrakib Period have a narrow border in the upper section, and a thick border in the lower section. The body contours are sharp, with no curved lines and there no details of the feet [Darga 1992:281-282]. One of the important artifacts recovered from the citadel at Zincirli is a grave stele in relief depicting the queen and her servant during a feast [Darga 1992:283]. The sphinx with the diadem found near Hilani II at the citadel, the ceremonial cortege orthostats of Hilani III, a column with double sphinxes at the gate of Hilani III and again the gate lion of Hilani III are among the works of art that demonstrates the originality of Aramean style [Darga 1992:294]. Epigraphic Material: Many of the inscriptions found at Zincirli are not in Luwian. The first inscription is a petition of dynasty that was personally dictated by Kilamuva. Although the data on the inscription indicate the official language Aramaic, the inscription of Kilamuva is in Phoenician. It is the "earliest Phoenician inscription" known in Anatolia, and belongs to a period approximately 140 years before the Karatepe inscriptions. The following inscriptions were in Aramaic, but were written again in Phoenician alphabet. We may relate the absence of any Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions at Zincirli to its limited usage by a minority group. However, the name of the dominating Kilamuva of Semitic origin is in Luwian [Özyar 2005:20]. While no administrative archive was found in the citadel, in the relief depicting Bar-rakib, the clerk opposite to him holds a sort of a hinged book under his armpit. It should be a wooden tablet covered with a layer of wax, which probably made it impossible for the archives to reach to the present day [Özyar 2005:20].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating:


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