Research Article

BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)

Number: 35 December 30, 2024
TR EN

BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)

Abstract

This article explores the end of Early Bronze Age IVB (ca. 2300-2100 BC) and the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age I (ca. 2100-1800 BC) levels encountered during the research-rescue excavations conducted at Toprakhisar Höyük, a peripheral site located in the hilly landscape of the Altınözü district of Hatay. The archaeological remains exposed provided the possibility to explore research questions regarding the Early Bronze Age collapse and Middle Bronze Age re-urbanization from the stand point of the highland periphery in relation to the city centers of Tell Tayinat and Tell Atchana in the Amuq Valley of Hatay. The mixed corpus of the ephemeral Early Bronze IVB assemblage that includes elements from the Early Transcaucasian to North Syrian cultural horizon was followed by the appearance of a new local material culture in the early phases of the Middle Bronze Age. This allows us to contribute to current debates, including the expansion of the Amorites and Hurrians, and brings forward a hypothesis developed around climate change-induced long distance mobility patterns and cultural hybridization. The functional role of the site as an olive oil and wine producer has been suggested to be a strong economic aspect of the site in terms of its levels that witnessed environmental and anthropogenic stress followed by the subsequent urban expansion period.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Hatay Archaeological Museum, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University

Thanks

We would like to thank K. Aslıhan Yener, Stephen D. Batiuk and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and to Onur Hasan Kırman, Su Ün and Göksu Akgül for illustrations. We are grateful to Tara Ingman for proofreading the final text.

References

  1. Akar, M., & Kara, D. (2018). Into the Hinterland: The Middle Bronze Age Building at Toprakhisar Höyük, Altınözü (Hatay, Turkey). Adalya, 21, 85-115.
  2. Akar, M., & Kara, D. (2020). The formation of collective, political and cultural memory in the middle bronze age: Foundation and termination rituals at Toprakhisar Höyük. Anatolian Studies, 70, 77-103.
  3. Akar, M., & Kara, D. (2022). A lead figurine from Toprakhisar Höyük: Magico-ritual objects in the Syro-Anatolian middle bronze age. Anatolian Studies, 72, 17-36.
  4. Akar, M., Yener, K. A., Bulu, M., & Ingman, T. (2021). A Fresh Perspective on the Middle Bronze Age at Tell Atchana, Alalakh: The 2007-2019 Seasons. In S. R. Steadman & G. McMahon (Eds.), The Archaeology of Anatolia, Volume IV: Recent Discoveries (2018-2020) (pp. 75-95). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  5. Aquilano, M. (2016). Andirons, Lamps and Portable Hearths. In N. Laneri (Ed.), Hirbemerdon Tepe Archaeological Project 2003-2013 Final Report. Chronology and Material Culture (pp. 113-116). BraDypUS.
  6. Archi, A. (2006). Alalakh al Tempo del Regno di Ebla. In D. Morandi Bonacossi, E. Rova, F. Veronese, & P. Zanovello (Eds.), Tra riente e Occidente: Studi in onore di Elena Di Filippo Balestrazzi (pp. 3-5). Sargon.
  7. Avşar, U., Akar, M., & Pearson, C. (2019). Geoarchaeological Investigations in the Amuq Valley of Hatay: Sediment Coring Project in the Environs of Tell Atchana. In H. Sözbilir, Ç. Özkaymak, B. Uzel, Ö. Sümer, M. Softa, Ç. Tepe, & S. Eski (Eds.), The Proceedings and Abstracts Book, 72nd Geological Congress of Turkey with International Participation (pp. 798-802). Jeoloji Mühendisleri Odası Yayınları.
  8. Ay, E. (2021). A Hurrian-Mitanni Temple in Müslümantepe in the Upper Tigris and New Findings. Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, 20(2), 338-361.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Ceramics in Archeology, Early Bronze Age Archeology, Archaeology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 30, 2024

Submission Date

May 3, 2024

Acceptance Date

August 5, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Number: 35

APA
Akar, M., Bulu, M., & Kara, D. (2024). BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE). TÜBA-AR Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi, 35, 51-72. https://doi.org/10.22520/tubaar.1477360
AMA
1.Akar M, Bulu M, Kara D. BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE). TÜBA-AR. 2024;(35):51-72. doi:10.22520/tubaar.1477360
Chicago
Akar, Murat, Müge Bulu, and Demet Kara. 2024. “BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)”. TÜBA-AR Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi, nos. 35: 51-72. https://doi.org/10.22520/tubaar.1477360.
EndNote
Akar M, Bulu M, Kara D (December 1, 2024) BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE). TÜBA-AR Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi 35 51–72.
IEEE
[1]M. Akar, M. Bulu, and D. Kara, “BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)”, TÜBA-AR, no. 35, pp. 51–72, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.22520/tubaar.1477360.
ISNAD
Akar, Murat - Bulu, Müge - Kara, Demet. “BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)”. TÜBA-AR Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi. 35 (December 1, 2024): 51-72. https://doi.org/10.22520/tubaar.1477360.
JAMA
1.Akar M, Bulu M, Kara D. BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE). TÜBA-AR. 2024;:51–72.
MLA
Akar, Murat, et al. “BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE)”. TÜBA-AR Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi, no. 35, Dec. 2024, pp. 51-72, doi:10.22520/tubaar.1477360.
Vancouver
1.Murat Akar, Müge Bulu, Demet Kara. BEFORE THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE RE-URBANIZATION AT THE HINTERLAND SITE OF TOPRAKHİSAR HÖYÜK (HATAY, TÜRKİYE). TÜBA-AR. 2024 Dec. 1;(35):51-72. doi:10.22520/tubaar.1477360

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