Cover and Contents of the Prooceedings Book of the first two Symposia organized by the Archaeolog... more Cover and Contents of the Prooceedings Book of the first two Symposia organized by the Archaeology Department of Ankara University.
Fakülte Adına Sahibi | Owner on Behalf of the Faculty Dekan | Dean Prof. Dr. İhsan ÇİÇEK Baş Edit... more Fakülte Adına Sahibi | Owner on Behalf of the Faculty Dekan | Dean Prof. Dr. İhsan ÇİÇEK Baş Editör | Editor in Chief Fatoş SUBAŞIOĞLU Editörler | Co-Editors Nevzat ÖZEL Zeynep Z. ATAYURT FENGE Małgorzata FEDOROWICZ-KRUSZEWSKA Erdoğan KUL
Cover and Contents of the Prooceedings Book of the first two Symposia organized by the Archaeolog... more Cover and Contents of the Prooceedings Book of the first two Symposia organized by the Archaeology Department of Ankara University.
Fakülte Adına Sahibi | Owner on Behalf of the Faculty Dekan | Dean Prof. Dr. İhsan ÇİÇEK Baş Edit... more Fakülte Adına Sahibi | Owner on Behalf of the Faculty Dekan | Dean Prof. Dr. İhsan ÇİÇEK Baş Editör | Editor in Chief Fatoş SUBAŞIOĞLU Editörler | Co-Editors Nevzat ÖZEL Zeynep Z. ATAYURT FENGE Małgorzata FEDOROWICZ-KRUSZEWSKA Erdoğan KUL
"A reassessment of the impact of metal technologies in the development of complex/hierarchical so... more "A reassessment of the impact of metal technologies in the development of complex/hierarchical societies in Anatolian Early Bronze Age": M. Novotna et al. (eds.), Ancient Communities and Their Elites from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity (Central Europe-Mediterranean-Black Sea) Part II. ANODOS, Studies of the Ancient World 14/2014, Trnavská univerzita v Trnave, Filozofická fakulta, 2019, 9-20.
“The Ring-Idols from Bakla Tepe: The Distribution of this type in Anatolia with particular refere... more “The Ring-Idols from Bakla Tepe: The Distribution of this type in Anatolia with particular references to the Aegean and the Balkans”: O. Menozzi, M. L. Di Marzio, D. Fossataro (eds.),SOMA 2005 Proceedings of the IX Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, Chieti (Italy), 24-26 February 2005, Archaeopress, BAR S1739, Oxford, 2008, 87-95.
Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım... more Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım) basılan hakemli bir dergidir. Bu dergide yayınlanan makalelerin içeriği tamamen yazarların sorumluluğundadır.
Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım... more Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım) basılan hakemli bir dergidir. Bu dergide yayınlanan makalelerin içeriği tamamen yazarların sorumluluğundadır.
Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım... more Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım) basılan hakemli bir dergidir. Bu dergide yayınlanan makalelerin içeriği tamamen yazarların sorumluluğundadır.
Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım... more Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım) basılan hakemli bir dergidir. Bu dergide yayınlanan makalelerin içeriği tamamen yazarların sorumluluğundadır.
Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım... more Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü'nün resmi yayın organıdır. Yılda bir kez (Kasım) basılan hakemli bir dergidir. Bu dergide yayınlanan makalelerin içeriği tamamen yazarların sorumluluğundadır.
Liman Tepe is a major Bronze Age harbor settlement located in the heart of the Western Anatolian ... more Liman Tepe is a major Bronze Age harbor settlement located in the heart of the Western Anatolian littoral in İzmir province. The site shows a continuous stratigraphic sequence from the Chalcolithic Period into the Classical Ages when it was known as Clazomenae. Land excavations have been continuing since 1992 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Hayat ERKANAL from Ankara University. As a result of the discovery of submerged remains adjacent to the site, underwater excavations started in 2000 as a joint project between Ankara and Haifa universities. The starting point of underwater research was to examine the submerged features formed by two perpendicular moles and to identify their construction phases in relation to the land site. The identification of the submerged remains as a harbor was confirmed with the exposure of an anchor, and examination of an artificial stone-heaped wall which when partially emerged would have been an effective breakwater. Prehistoric and Archaic pottery have been found within the stones of the larger of the two moles. According to the pottery and C-14 dates, the wooden anchor arm, preserved imbedded in the ancient sea floor, dates to the Archaic period. The scientific potential of Liman Tepe is great due to its preserved harbor architecture and, particularly, for its coherent stratigraphy, unique in coastal excavation. Excavation within the harbor basin, so far as deep as 3 m beneath the present sea-floor, has exposed potentially continuous stratigraphy from the Late-Archaic period and two different harbor floors have been exposed, dating to the 6th and 4th c. B.C respectively. The most recent research, undertaken by Ankara University Research Center for Maritime Archaeology (ANKÜSAM) is focusing on determining the complete stratigraphic sequence under the water and investigating the probable Bronze Age background of the harbour complex. Regional geological study has also been undertaken by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joe Boyce and Dr. Beverly Goodman from McMaster University, Canada, whose methods include coring and remote sensing. Such studies have enabled the reconstruction of previous sea levels, coastlines, and will place the harbor in its regional geographical context; including its relation with a nearby island-connecting causeway whose earliest phase is attributed to the time of Alexander the Great.
Hayat Erkanal, Vasıf Şahoğlu, Ourania Kouka, Rıza Tuncel, Levent Keskin, İrfan Tuğcu
Data on the ... more Hayat Erkanal, Vasıf Şahoğlu, Ourania Kouka, Rıza Tuncel, Levent Keskin, İrfan Tuğcu Data on the prehistory of Western Anatolia has been steadily increasing during the last few decades as a result of new excavations and research carried out both on coastal and inland sites. These excavations and research have greatly contributed to our present knowledge and help us better understand the prehistoric cultures of Western Anatolia within a broader context of Aegean and Anatolian cultural spheres. Liman Tepe, located in Izmir province, shows a continuous habitation sequence from the Chalcolithic period onwards to the Classical ages. The importance of the site is represented by the impressive remains of the Early Bronze Age when it was one of the largest harbor towns in the Aegean world. During the EBA I period the site was fortified with a monumental defensive wall accompanied by two rectangular towers. The settlement plan includes long houses, sharing common walls and built perpendicular to the fortification wall. This radial plan accords well with the "Anatolian settlement plan" which is well-known from other contemporary Western Anatolian and East Aegean island settlements. So far three houses (Houses 1, 2 and 3) have been completely or partially investigated. The archaeological evidence demonstrates that these buildings were used not only for domestic purposes but also acted as production areas. Particular buildings were used for specific activities, including metalworking, textile and obsidian production. During this period, Liman Tepe displays all the characteristics of an important harbor town with many imported finds, especially from the Cycladic islands. During the succeeding phase, the dimensions of the settlement increased and the upper town was surrounded with a massive and monumental fortification system supported by horse-shoe shaped bastions. At the earlier phases of EBA II the long houses of the previous period were still in use with some alterations but were later accompanied by the construction of a monumental communal complex. The finds from this building, such as seals, cultic objects and fine examples of pottery suggest that it acted both as a religious and administrative center of the site. The 2009 season at Liman Tepe aimed at further documenting the stratigraphy of House 1 in its northern half, while also aiming to reach the levels at its southern end (unexcavated until this year). This paper will represent the results of the 2009 season at Liman Tepe concerning the Early Bronze Age within the perspective of previous years' work.
Anadolu dünyada metalürjik faaliyetlerin en erken ortaya çıktığı bölgelerden biridir. Farklı bölg... more Anadolu dünyada metalürjik faaliyetlerin en erken ortaya çıktığı bölgelerden biridir. Farklı bölgelerde gelişen maden işçiliği ekolleri özellikle Erken Tunç Çağı'ndan itibaren son derece gelişmiş kültürleri yansıtmaktadır. Bu alanda, uzun yıllar boyunca Troia hazine buluntularıyla temsil edilen Batı Anadolu'da son yıllarda gerçekleştirilen kazı ve araştırmalar metalürjik etkinliklerin Geç Kalkolitik Çağ'dan itibaren yaygın bir şekilde başladığını göstermektedir. Önceki yıllarda yürütülen kazılar yanında, özellikle 20. yy'ın son çeyreğinde başlayan ve sayısı hızla artan araştırmalar bu aktivitelerin belirli bir bölgeyle sınırlı olmadığını, sahil şeridinden iç bölgelere kadar çok geniş bir alana yayıldığını göstermiştir. İzmir bölgesinde yürütülen araştırmalar da bu alanda önemli sonuçlar ortaya koymuştur. Bölgenin coğrafi konumu yanında maden yatakları açısından sahip olduğu zenginlik de bu konuda büyük bir avantaj sağlamaktadır. İzmir ili sınırlarında Bakla Tepe ve Liman Tepe'de yürütülen kazılar sonucu açığa çıkarılan madeni eserler ve maden işçiliğine yönelik buluntular Geç Kalkolitik Çağ'da başlayan ve Erken Tunç Çağı'yla birlikte artan çok yoğun metalürjik aktivitelerin varlığını işaret etmektedir. Özellikle bazı belirli formlar, yerel üretim yanında Ege dünyası ve Anadolu'nun farklı bölgeleriyle de kurulan yakın ilişkileri yansıtmaktadır. Bu çalışma kapsamında çıkış noktasını Bakla Tepe ve Liman Tepe'de ele geçen eserler oluşturacak şekilde İzmir bölgesindeki maden işçiliği ve madencilik aktiviteleri kronolojik ve kültürel açıdan tüm boyutlarıyla ortaya konmaya çalışılmıştır. Halen devam etmekte olan analiz çalışmaları da bölgenin sahip olduğu potansiyele ilişkin önemli sonuçlar sunmakta olup, madeni eserler yanında, özellikle üretime yönelik buluntular, Batı Anadolu açısından son derece önemli ve bölge açısından bugüne dek bilinmeyen veriler sunmaktadır.
Anatolia is one of the regions where earliest metallurgical activities begun. Local metalworking schools in different parts of the country show remarkable achievement especially with the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. Recent investigations show that the metallurgical activities in Western Anatolia ? which was represented by the famous treasure finds of Troia for a long time ? were started intensively in the Late Chalcolithic period. Beside the earlier excavations, the ever more increasing number of recent excavations and researches show that these activities were not limited to a particular area but widespread from coastal areas further to the inland zones. Investigations in İzmir region have also provided important results on the subject. Beside its geographical position the rich metallic deposits in the region played an important role in this development. The metal artifacts and other finds related to the metalworking activities recovered from Bakla Tepe and Liman Tepe point to intensive metallurgical activities which were started in the Late Chalcolithic period with an increase during the Early Bronze Age. Beside local production, some distinct forms point to the intensive contacts established with the Aegean world and different parts of Anatolia. This study aims to present the development of metallurgical activities in İzmir region from both chronological and cultural point of views. Ongoing studies on the analyses of metal artifacts and possible ore sources also provide important data on the potential of the region. Beside the metal artifacts, finds relating to the metallurgical activities show unique and hitherto unknown features for entire Western Anatolia.
Anadolu Yarımadası dünyada madencilik aktivitelerinin en erken başladığı bölgelerden biridir. Bat... more Anadolu Yarımadası dünyada madencilik aktivitelerinin en erken başladığı bölgelerden biridir. Bati Anadolu bölgesi de coğrafi konumunun sağladığı avantajlar ve maden yatakları açısından sahip olduğu zenginlik sayesinde bu alanda gelişmiş bir kültürü yansıtmaktadır. Madencilik ve maden işçiliği kavramları tek başına ele alınıp açıklanmaya çalışılacak birer olgu değildir. Bu konuyu sadece madeni eserlerden yola çıkarak değerlendirmek sığ olduğu kadar yanlış yorumlara da yol açmaktadır. Özellikle Erken Tunç Çağı başlarından itibaren gelişen ticaret ağları ile toplum yapısında ve kent organizasyonlarında gözlenen çarpıcı değişimler büyük ölçüde maden ve madeni eser dolaşımına bağlı olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu açıdan bakıldığında madencilik alanındaki ilerlemeler toplum yaşamındaki gelişimlerle eşzamanlı olarak birbirlerini karşılıklı etkilemiştir. Buradan hareketle bu konu değerlendirilirken üretim aşaması yanında kültürel boyutunun da gözönüne alınması, sağlıklı sonuçlara ulaşılması açısından önemli bir zorunluluktur. Batı Anadolu maden işçiliğini genel olarak değerlendirdiğimizde ilk aktivitelerin Geç Kalkolitik Çağ içinde başladığını görmekteyiz, çok sayıda merkezde çeşitli buluntularla karşılaşılmasına rağmen, bu dönem maden işçiliği daha çok gündelik kullanım amaçlı aletlere yönelik ve daha çok yerel niteliktedir. Bu dönemi Bati Anadolu madenciliğinin başlangıç safhası olarak da değerlendirebiliriz. Bunun yanında özellikle Bakla Tepe gibi merkezlerde ele geçen çok sayıda cüruf önemli bir üretime de işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca yine Bakla Tepe ve Beycesultan'da ele geçmiş gümüş yüzükler üzerinde yapılan analizler bu dönemde kupelasyon tekniğinin uyguladığını göstermesi açısından da önemlidir. Madencilik alanında ilk büyük gelişmeyi Erken Tunç Çağı I döneminde görmekteyiz. Buna paralel olarak toplum yaşamında da önemli değişiklikler ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bir önceki dönemin kendine yetebilen ve daha çok tarıma dayalı toplumları yerine yavaş yavaş madene bağımlılık yüzünden merkezi bir otoriteye bağlı ve çeşitli işkollarının ortaya çıktığı daha küçük ve düzenli kentler ortaya çıkmaya başlamıştır. Siyasi ve ekonomik açıdan gücünü büyük oranda ticaret yollarının kontrolünden ve ticareti yapılan eserlerin dolaşımından alan daha büyük kentler de belirli bölgeleri kontrol eden merkezi otoriteler şeklinde ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu tür merkezlerde kentlerin merkezinde belirli bir alanın güçlü sur duvarlarıyla koruma altına alındığını ve bu alan içinde yeralan mekanların yönetici sınıf kontrolünde belirli üretim aktiviteleri için kullanıldığını da arkeolojik bulgular ortaya koymaktadır. Bu dönemde bu olayı en iyi şekilde Liman Tepe 'den tanımaktayız. Özellikle denizaşırı ticaretin de iyice gelişmesiyle birlikte Erken Tunç Çağı II döneminde madencilik aktivitesi de en üst düzeyine ulaşmıştır. Bu dönemde Bati Anadolu 'da kıyı kesimlerinde güçlü bir hinterlanda sahip merkezi ve gelişmiş kentler yanında iç bölgelerde de ticaret yollarını kontrol altında tutabilecek karakterde kentlerin geliştiğini görmekteyiz, gelişen bu ticaretin etkisiyle Güneydoğu Avrupa'dan Mezopotamya'ya ve Kafkaslar' a uzanan bir coğrafyada madeni eserlerin dolaşımının gerçekleştiğini görmekteyiz. Bu dönem Bati Anadolu madenciliği de en gelişkin safhasına ulaşmıştır ve Orta Anadolu bölgesiyle birlikte Anadolu'nun en baskın iki madencilik ekolünden birini temsil etmektedir. Her türlü maden kullanılarak çok çeşitli tipte ve teknikte estetik düzeyi de son derece yüksek çeşitli eserlerin Batı Anadolulu maden ustaları tarafından üretildiğini görmekteyiz, tik olarak Geç Kalkolitik Çağ 'da ya da Erken Tunç Çağı I döneminde ortaya çıkan bazı tipler de Batı Anadolu'ya özgün tipler olarak gelişimlerini sürdürmektedir. Bu dönemde Batı Anadolu'nun genel karakterini yansıtmakla beraber özellikle bazı bölgelerde merkezileşmiş ekollerden de bahsedebiliriz. Bunları Kuzeybatı Anadolu (Troas Bölgesi), İzmir Bölgesi, Denizli, Afyon ve Bahkestr-Kütahya-Eskişehir bölgeleri olarak sıralayabiliriz, İç bölgelerde daha çok Orta Anadolu ve Mezopotamya etkisi ya da etkileşimine karşın kıyı bölgesindeki merkezler denizaşırı tiicaretin etkisiyle daha çok batıya dönük özellikte karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, ortaya çıkışından M.Ö. III. Binyıhn sonuna kadar, yerel baza özellikler göstermekle beraber gelişim çizgisini rahatlıkla izleyebildiğimiz ve ayırdedici özelliklere sahip ortak karakterde bir Batı Anadolu madenciliği ekolünden sözedebiliriz.
Anatolian peninsula is one of the regions of the world where the earliest metallurgical activities began. West Anatolian region also reflects a well developed culture in this field due to the advantages of its geographical position and natural resources. Mining and metalworking concepts are not easy to explain from a single point of view. The interpretations based only on metal artifacts may result in very narrow and misleading conclusions. The remarkable changes observed in the social structures and settlement organizations and the appearance of long-distance trade-networks, especially with the beginning of the Early Bronze Age I period are mainly based on the circulation of metals and metal artifacts. Following this, the developments in the metallurgical field and the dramatic changes in the societies affected each other simultaneously. Therefore it's very important to consider both the technological and cultural dimensions of this subject to obtain sufficient results. Considering West Anatolian metalworking generally, we see that the first activities began during the Late Chalcolithic period. Although there are quite a big number of artifacts from different sites, the metalworking of this period covers mostly tools for daily usage and has a much more local character. We can call this stage as the beginning phase of West Anatolian metalworking. On the other hand many slags recovered at Bakla Tepe and a few other sites point an important amount of production for this period. Besides, the analyses carried out on silver artifacts from Bakla Tepe and Beycesultan indicate that some developed techniques such as cupellation was already known at this period. The main dramatic change in the metalworking occurs in the Early Bronze Age I period. Simultaneously there are many important changes in the social structures. Instead of the self- sufficient, independent, and small scaled villages of the previous period which are mostly based on agricultural economies, new small cities begin to appear with more organized settlement plans and different craftmanships. These new cities are usually dependant to a central authority because of the increasing demand for metals. Much bigger cities with their political and economical strength based mainly on the control of the trade routes appear as centered powers which control particular regions. Archaeological records indicate that a particular space in the central area of such cities is surrounded and fortified with thick and strong walls and the places here used mainly for particular production activities, including metalworking, controlled by the ruler class. This situation is best evidenced at Liman Tepe within this period. Especially with the development of the maritime trade, the metalworking activities also achieved its highest level in the Early Bronze Age II period. During this period, beside the powerful centers along the West Anatolian coastal zone with a wide hinterland, we see that similar developed cities also exist in the inland parts due to their positions which have control on the inland trade routes. The circulation of metal artifacts in this period covers a very wide area from Southeastern Europe to Mesopotamia and Caucasus. West Anatolian metalworking of the Early Bronze Age II reflects one of the main dominant metalworking schools of Anatolia. During this phase, West Anatolian metalworkers produced a wide variety of artifacts from different metals using many different techniques with a high aesthetic level Some forms which make their first appearance during the Late Chalcolithic or the Early Bronze Age I periods also continue their development as typical forms of West Anatolia. During this period, while reflecting West Anatolian general character we can also mention some local schools in different parts of the region. These can be listed as Northeastern Anatolia (Troad), İzmir Region, Denizli, Afyon and Baukesir-Kütahya-Eskişehir regions. The inland regions show more Central Anatolian and Mesopotamian influence and/or interactions whereas the centers along the coastal zone have a more west-oriented character. As a result, from its beginning to the end of the third Millennium B.C. we can use the term "West Anatolian Metalworking" which has distinctive features and a common character with some local affinities with its own development line that can be followed easily.
DİMED (Dışişleri Mensupları Eşleri Derneği) tarafından Ankara’daki yabancı misyon eşleri için düz... more DİMED (Dışişleri Mensupları Eşleri Derneği) tarafından Ankara’daki yabancı misyon eşleri için düzenlenen Geleneksel Salı Toplantıları kapsamında, 18 Mart 2003, Devlet Konukevi, Ankara.
Kütahya Arkeoloji, Sanat Tarihi ve Tarih Araştırmaları: Kütahya Müzesi 2020 Yıllığı, 2021
Bu makale, Eskişehir ve Kütahya İlleri Tarih Öncesi Dönem Yüzey Araştırması (EKAR) Projesi’nin 20... more Bu makale, Eskişehir ve Kütahya İlleri Tarih Öncesi Dönem Yüzey Araştırması (EKAR) Projesi’nin 2020 yılı programı kapsamında, bölgenin madencilik ve metal işçiliği tarihinin anlaşılması amacıyla Kütahya il sınırları içerisinde yapılan saha çalışmalarını konu edinmektedir. Makalede Kütahya’daki tarihöncesi madencilik ve metal işçiliğine yönelik mevcut veriler ve EKAR Projesi 2020 yılı çalışmaları bütünleşik olarak sunulmuştur. Arkeolojik yüzey araştırmalarına paralel biçimde gerçekleştirilen tarihöncesi madencilik ve metal işçiliğine yönelik söz konusu çalışmalar; Emet, Hisarcık, Tavşanlı, Domaniç ilçeleri ile Merkez ilçede (Kütahya) gerçekleştirilmiştir.
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site shows a continuous stratigraphic sequence from the Chalcolithic Period into the Classical Ages when it was known as
Clazomenae. Land excavations have been continuing since 1992 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Hayat ERKANAL from Ankara
University. As a result of the discovery of submerged remains adjacent to the site, underwater excavations started in 2000 as a
joint project between Ankara and Haifa universities. The starting point of underwater research was to examine the submerged
features formed by two perpendicular moles and to identify their construction phases in relation to the land site. The
identification of the submerged remains as a harbor was confirmed with the exposure of an anchor, and examination of an
artificial stone-heaped wall which when partially emerged would have been an effective breakwater. Prehistoric and Archaic
pottery have been found within the stones of the larger of the two moles. According to the pottery and C-14 dates, the wooden
anchor arm, preserved imbedded in the ancient sea floor, dates to the Archaic period. The scientific potential of Liman Tepe is
great due to its preserved harbor architecture and, particularly, for its coherent stratigraphy, unique in coastal excavation.
Excavation within the harbor basin, so far as deep as 3 m beneath the present sea-floor, has exposed potentially continuous
stratigraphy from the Late-Archaic period and two different harbor floors have been exposed, dating to the 6th and 4th c. B.C
respectively. The most recent research, undertaken by Ankara University Research Center for Maritime Archaeology
(ANKÜSAM) is focusing on determining the complete stratigraphic sequence under the water and investigating the probable
Bronze Age background of the harbour complex. Regional geological study has also been undertaken by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joe
Boyce and Dr. Beverly Goodman from McMaster University, Canada, whose methods include coring and remote sensing. Such
studies have enabled the reconstruction of previous sea levels, coastlines, and will place the harbor in its regional geographical
context; including its relation with a nearby island-connecting causeway whose earliest phase is attributed to the time of
Alexander the Great.
Data on the prehistory of Western Anatolia has been steadily increasing during the last few decades as a result of new
excavations and research carried out both on coastal and inland sites. These excavations and research have greatly contributed
to our present knowledge and help us better understand the prehistoric cultures of Western Anatolia within a broader context of
Aegean and Anatolian cultural spheres. Liman Tepe, located in Izmir province, shows a continuous habitation sequence from
the Chalcolithic period onwards to the Classical ages. The importance of the site is represented by the impressive remains of the
Early Bronze Age when it was one of the largest harbor towns in the Aegean world. During the EBA I period the site was fortified
with a monumental defensive wall accompanied by two rectangular towers. The settlement plan includes long houses, sharing
common walls and built perpendicular to the fortification wall. This radial plan accords well with the "Anatolian settlement plan"
which is well-known from other contemporary Western Anatolian and East Aegean island settlements. So far three houses
(Houses 1, 2 and 3) have been completely or partially investigated. The archaeological evidence demonstrates that these
buildings were used not only for domestic purposes but also acted as production areas. Particular buildings were used for
specific activities, including metalworking, textile and obsidian production. During this period, Liman Tepe displays all the
characteristics of an important harbor town with many imported finds, especially from the Cycladic islands. During the
succeeding phase, the dimensions of the settlement increased and the upper town was surrounded with a massive and
monumental fortification system supported by horse-shoe shaped bastions. At the earlier phases of EBA II the long houses of
the previous period were still in use with some alterations but were later accompanied by the construction of a monumental
communal complex. The finds from this building, such as seals, cultic objects and fine examples of pottery suggest that it acted
both as a religious and administrative center of the site. The 2009 season at Liman Tepe aimed at further documenting the
stratigraphy of House 1 in its northern half, while also aiming to reach the levels at its southern end (unexcavated until this year).
This paper will represent the results of the 2009 season at Liman Tepe concerning the Early Bronze Age within the perspective
of previous years' work.
Anatolia is one of the regions where earliest metallurgical activities begun. Local metalworking schools in different parts of the country show remarkable achievement especially with the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. Recent investigations show that the metallurgical activities in Western Anatolia ? which was represented by the famous treasure finds of Troia for a long time ? were started intensively in the Late Chalcolithic period. Beside the earlier excavations, the ever more increasing number of recent excavations and researches show that these activities were not limited to a particular area but widespread from coastal areas further to the inland zones. Investigations in İzmir region have also provided important results on the subject. Beside its geographical position the rich metallic deposits in the region played an important role in this development. The metal artifacts and other finds related to the metalworking activities recovered from Bakla Tepe and Liman Tepe point to intensive metallurgical activities which were started in the Late Chalcolithic period with an increase during the Early Bronze Age. Beside local production, some distinct forms point to the intensive contacts established with the Aegean world and different parts of Anatolia. This study aims to present the development of metallurgical activities in İzmir region from both chronological and cultural point of views. Ongoing studies on the analyses of metal artifacts and possible ore sources also provide important data on the potential of the region. Beside the metal artifacts, finds relating to the metallurgical activities show unique and hitherto unknown features for entire Western Anatolia.
Anatolian peninsula is one of the regions of the world where the earliest metallurgical activities began. West Anatolian region also reflects a well developed culture in this field due to the advantages of its geographical position and natural resources. Mining and metalworking concepts are not easy to explain from a single point of view. The interpretations based only on metal artifacts may result in very narrow and misleading conclusions. The remarkable changes observed in the social structures and settlement organizations and the appearance of long-distance trade-networks, especially with the beginning of the Early Bronze Age I period are mainly based on the circulation of metals and metal artifacts. Following this, the developments in the metallurgical field and the dramatic changes in the societies affected each other simultaneously. Therefore it's very important to consider both the technological and cultural dimensions of this subject to obtain sufficient results. Considering West Anatolian metalworking generally, we see that the first activities began during the Late Chalcolithic period. Although there are quite a big number of artifacts from different sites, the metalworking of this period covers mostly tools for daily usage and has a much more local character. We can call this stage as the beginning phase of West Anatolian metalworking. On the other hand many slags recovered at Bakla Tepe and a few other sites point an important amount of production for this period. Besides, the analyses carried out on silver artifacts from Bakla Tepe and Beycesultan indicate that some developed techniques such as cupellation was already known at this period. The main dramatic change in the metalworking occurs in the Early Bronze Age I period. Simultaneously there are many important changes in the social structures. Instead of the self- sufficient, independent, and small scaled villages of the previous period which are mostly based on agricultural economies, new small cities begin to appear with more organized settlement plans and different craftmanships. These new cities are usually dependant to a central authority because of the increasing demand for metals. Much bigger cities with their political and economical strength based mainly on the control of the trade routes appear as centered powers which control particular regions. Archaeological records indicate that a particular space in the central area of such cities is surrounded and fortified with thick and strong walls and the places here used mainly for particular production activities, including metalworking, controlled by the ruler class. This situation is best evidenced at Liman Tepe within this period. Especially with the development of the maritime trade, the metalworking activities also achieved its highest level in the Early Bronze Age II period. During this period, beside the powerful centers along the West Anatolian coastal zone with a wide hinterland, we see that similar developed cities also exist in the inland parts due to their positions which have control on the inland trade routes. The circulation of metal artifacts in this period covers a very wide area from Southeastern Europe to Mesopotamia and Caucasus. West Anatolian metalworking of the Early Bronze Age II reflects one of the main dominant metalworking schools of Anatolia. During this phase, West Anatolian metalworkers produced a wide variety of artifacts from different metals using many different techniques with a high aesthetic level Some forms which make their first appearance during the Late Chalcolithic or the Early Bronze Age I periods also continue their development as typical forms of West Anatolia. During this period, while reflecting West Anatolian general character we can also mention some local schools in different parts of the region. These can be listed as Northeastern Anatolia (Troad), İzmir Region, Denizli, Afyon and Baukesir-Kütahya-Eskişehir regions. The inland regions show more Central Anatolian and Mesopotamian influence and/or interactions whereas the centers along the coastal zone have a more west-oriented character. As a result, from its beginning to the end of the third Millennium B.C. we can use the term "West Anatolian Metalworking" which has distinctive features and a common character with some local affinities with its own development line that can be followed easily.
https://cms.yasar.edu.tr/4th-conference-on-historical-mining-sites-in-turkey/
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