Observations on the Spiral-Patterned Seal from the Büyük Deller Settlement

Year 2025, Issue: 24, 25 - 49, 30.12.2025

Işıl Demirtaş

https://doi.org/10.58488/collan.1786795

Abstract

Seals represent a multifaceted artefact with a long-standing presence throughout history, extending from prehistoric times to the present era. These artefacts are fabricated from a variety of materials and feature a range of motifs, each with its own shifting meanings and functions. The present study focuses on seals from various periods and regions across a broad geographical area, from inland Anatolia eastward to northern Iraq and westward to southeastern Europe in the west, analysing them in terms of their motif characteristics. The analysis focuses on a stamp seal bearing a spiral motif, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic period and was discovered at the Büyük Deller site in Aksaray. This example is employed to evaluate Neolithic and Chalcolithic stamp seals from Volcanic Cappadocia, with a particular focus on the continuity and transformation observed in their motifs. Despite the fact that the Büyük Deller seal was unearthed in an undefined stratigraphic context, its motif and typological features permit its inclusion in regional patterns. The discussion incorporates comparative examples from Tepecik-Çiftlik, Köşk Höyük and Güvercinkayası, with the aim of providing a preliminary assessment of motifs shared across different yet interconnected periods within the same region. The region's strategic importance within prehistoric exchange networks can be attributed to its abundant supply of obsidian. This study also explores the possible role of this characteristic in disseminating seal motifs.

Keywords

Prehistory , Volcanic Cappadocia , Büyük Deller , Stamp seal , Spiral motif

Ethical Statement

The author declare that all ethical principles were adhered to during the preparation, writing, and submission of this study. In the event of any contrary situation being discovered, the Colloquium Anatolicum bears no responsibility; all responsibility lies solely with the author of the study.

Thanks

We are extremely grateful to Dr. Pınar Çaylı for kindly granting us permission to study the Büyük Deller stamp seal and for allowing us to use the project archive. Buse Akkoca and İlkay M. Duru's contributions to the drawings are also worthy of recognition. I thank colleagues for their comments on earlier drafts which improved the paper. All remaining errors are my own.

Büyük Deller Yerleşmesi Spiral Motifli Damga Mührü Üzerine Gözlemler

Abstract

Tarihöncesinden günümüze yapım malzemesinden baskı motiflerine, değişen anlam ve işlevleriyle mühürler, çok boyutlu nesneler olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Anadolu içlerinden doğuda Kuzey Irak’a, batıda Güneydoğu Avrupa’ya uzanan geniş coğrafyanın farklı dönem ve bölgelerde görülen mühürler, motif özellikleri kapsamında ele alınmaktadır. Büyük Deller’de (Aksaray) Orta Kalkolitik Dönem’e tarihlenen spiral motifli damga mührü özelinde, Volkanik Kapadokya’daki Neolitik ve Kalkolitik Dönem damga mühür motiflerinde gözlenen süreklilik ve değişim incelenmektedir. Büyük Deller’in bu tekil buluntusu karşılaştırmalı tipolojik bir analizle Tepecik-Çiftlik, Köşk Höyük ve Güvercinkayası yerleşmelerinin örnekleriyle birlikte ele alınmaktadır. Farklı dönemlere tarihlenen bu örneklerle karşılaştırılarak, bu topluluklar arasında paylaşılan veya özgün motiflerin ön verileri sunulmaktadır. Volkanik Kapadokya obsidyen kaynaklarıyla ticaretin, mühür motiflerinin yayılmasındaki rolü tartışılmaktadır. Büyük Deller mührü bağlamsız bir katmanda bulunmuş olsa da, tipolojik benzerlikler de motif yaygınlık örüntülerini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Tarihöncesi , Volkanik Kapadokya , Büyük Deller , Damga mühür , Spiral Motif

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