KÜLLÜOBA: An Early Bronze Age Settlement in North-West Anatolian Hinterland An Overview on the Archaeological Work Done Between Years 1996-2000

Yıl 2001, Sayı: 4, 43 - 78, 15.12.2001

Turan Efe , Deniz Ş. M. Ay-efe

Öz

The mound of Küllüoba lies within the boundaries of the administrative district of Seyitgazi in the Province of Eskişehir. Settlement phases within the mound represent a time period which extends at least from the late Chalcolithic Period to the very end of the Early Bronze Age (the end of the EB III, ca. 1800 BC). Excavations at the site, begun in 1996 under the direction of Turan Efe of the Department of Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology at İstanbul University, have so far concentrated on the eastern and western cones of the large, sprawling mound 200x150m across. Stratigraphy in the western sector has revealed a cultural continuum from the end of Late Chalcolithic times to the beginnings of the EB II period. Especially of significance here is the settlement plan from the period transitional to the Early Bronze Age; it resembles M. Korfmann's "Anatolian Settlement Plan" as revealed at Demircihüyük. Its occurence here at Küllüoba, however, rep resents an even earlier period. The pottery on this western cone clearly displays a gradual transition from the Late Chalolithic throughout the whole of the EB I period.
EB II and EB III strata have been investigated in the eastern sector of the mound, where evidence. for the existence of an acropolis and a lower city as early as the EB II period bears considerable impact on Anatolian prehistory. A zigzag fortification wall lined with residences along the interi or encloses the upper city. An eastern gate in these fortifications has been unearthed, with a small court inside leading into an open area. Directly across this plaza or square the visitor was met by a palace complex a megaron flanked by two longitudinally adjoining megaroid structures, most li- kely the residence of the local ruler. There is also evidence of independent Megara upon this noropolis. The layout of the upper city would seem to represent an amalgamation of the Demircihüyük settlement plan with the plans of the cities of the North Aegean
The EB III pottery found at Küllüoba exhibits the typical western anatolian repertory of the age. Two foot-shaped stamp seals from EB II and III strata at Küllüoba emphasize the importance of trade. It is most particularly such finds from the EB II and EB III periods at Küllüoba that bear wit- ness to the overland trade that passed over the Eskişehir plain between Cilicia to the southeast and the Northern Aegean to the west.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Küllüoba , Early Bronze Age , Urbanization

KÜLLÜOBA: İç Kuzeybatı Anadolu'da Bir İlk Tunç Çağı Kenti 1996-2000 Yılları arasında Yapılan Kazı Çalışmalarının Genel Değerlendirmesi

Öz

The mound of Küllüoba lies within the boundaries of the administrative district of Seyitgazi in the Province of Eskişehir. Settlement phases within the mound represent a time period which extends at least from the late Chalcolithic Period to the very end of the Early Bronze Age (the end of the EB III, ca. 1800 BC). Excavations at the site, begun in 1996 under the direction of Turan Efe of the Department of Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology at İstanbul University, have so far concentrated on the eastern and western cones of the large, sprawling mound 200x150m across. Stratigraphy in the western sector has revealed a cultural continuum from the end of Late Chalcolithic times to the beginnings of the EB II period. Especially of significance here is the settlement plan from the period transitional to the Early Bronze Age; it resembles M. Korfmann's "Anatolian Settlement Plan" as revealed at Demircihüyük. Its occurence here at Küllüoba, however, rep resents an even earlier period. The pottery on this western cone clearly displays a gradual transition from the Late Chalolithic throughout the whole of the EB I period.
EB II and EB III strata have been investigated in the eastern sector of the mound, where evidence. for the existence of an acropolis and a lower city as early as the EB II period bears considerable impact on Anatolian prehistory. A zigzag fortification wall lined with residences along the interi or encloses the upper city. An eastern gate in these fortifications has been unearthed, with a small court inside leading into an open area. Directly across this plaza or square the visitor was met by a palace complex a megaron flanked by two longitudinally adjoining megaroid structures, most li- kely the residence of the local ruler. There is also evidence of independent Megara upon this noropolis. The layout of the upper city would seem to represent an amalgamation of the Demircihüyük settlement plan with the plans of the cities of the North Aegean
The EB III pottery found at Küllüoba exhibits the typical western anatolian repertory of the age. Two foot-shaped stamp seals from EB II and III strata at Küllüoba emphasize the importance of trade. It is most particularly such finds from the EB II and EB III periods at Küllüoba that bear wit- ness to the overland trade that passed over the Eskişehir plain between Cilicia to the southeast and the Northern Aegean to the west.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Küllüoba , İlk Tunç Çağı , Kentleşme

Kaynakça

• ALP. 8. 1968 Zylinder-und Stempelsiegel aus Karahnyak bei Korya Ankara