- 1 KEYAR: Konya Ereğli Yüzey Araştırması, Konya Ereğli Survey Project.
- 2 For research history please see Maner 2014, 2015, 2016.
1The KEYAR survey project began in 2013 with the intention to fill in a gap of underinvestigated provinces of the greater Konya region. The south-eastern corner, which encloses the provinces of Karapınar, Ereğli, Emirgazi and Halkapınar are investigated in this survey project2. The survey focuses on the investigation of Bronze and Iron Age sites, which is a great challenge, as the area comprises different geographies, such as the fertile Konya plain, the slopes of the Bolkar Mountains, the Karacadağ and Arısama Mountains and an area which consists of sand hills, dried out lakes and small conical volcanic hills. The results of the survey so far indicate that this diverse geography has led to different types and locations of settlements during the Bronze and Iron Ages in this region, namely höyük settlements, slope settlements, hilltop settlements and fortified settlements (fortresses). The survey region lies on important crossroads, which is reflected in the material culture. I am grateful to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Directorate of Antiquities and Museums of the Republic of Turkey for granting us the permission to investigate this very important part of Anatolia.
2The forth field season of the KEYAR survey project took place from June 20th until June 30th 2016. Sinan Durmuş from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara joined as the representative of the fourth field season. The survey team consisted of Muhip Çarkı (Phd candidate at Koç University, Department of Archaeology and History of Art), Müslim Demir (Master student at Ömer Halis Demir Üniversitesi, Geological Engineering), Murat Erün (Photographer and documentarist), Doç. Dr. Ali Gürel (Ömer Halis Demir Üniversitesi, Geological Engineering), Gülgün Gürcan (Archaeologist and amateur spelologist), Dr. Emre Kuruçayırlı (Archaeologist and amateur spelologist), Dr. Catherine Kuzucuoğlu (CNRS), and Yiğit Pekzeren and Batuhan Kuru both undergraduate students of Koç University Department of Archaeology and History of Art. Mrs. Sadiye Kaya has been our devoted driver since 2013. I am much obliged to the entire team for their hard and meticulous work and our temsilci, who was of great help with every problem we faced. I am grateful to my colleagues in the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums for their immense help, the Ereğli Museum director Mahmut Altuncan, the governor of Ereğli Lütfü Ömer Yaran, the mayor of Ereğli Özkan Özgüven, the former governor of Halkapınar Erdal Çetinbaş, the mayor of Halkapınar Fahri Vardar, the former governor of Emirgazi Saadettin Doğan and all the regional jandarma units. The muhtars of Karaören: Halil Sert, Gölören: Necati Uğurlu, Ekizli: Mukavep Erdem, Işıklar: Bayram Şenol Döleker, Oymalı: Mustafa Yılman and İvriz: Cumali Yurter were immense help in understanding and investigating the regions. The survey is financed by Koç University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. I would like to thank especially my dean Prof. Ahmet İçduydu and Prof. İrşadi Aksun Vice President of Research and Development for their unceasing support. I am also grateful to our sponsors and supporters: AVIS, Akmed, Özkoçlar Otel and Derya Lokantası. Lastly, I must thank every single person who provided us with a glass of water, ayran, çay, gazoz, fruits, food and a place in the shade to rest.
3This season was divided into five work units: a) archaeological survey, b) collecting an assemblage of pottery from previously investigated sites (2013-2015 seasons), c) survey and investigation of the cave in Ambarderesi in İvriz, d) palaeoenvironmental research survey in Adabağ and e) public outreach.
- 3 The geophysical survey could not be continued in 2016 as the team of Dr. Ercan Erkul from Kiel Univ (...)
- 4 For the treaties see: Otten 1988 and Beckmann 1996: 103-118.
4The archaeological survey aims to locate and systematically survey Bronze and Iron Age settlements in the region mentioned. Since 2015 it has been coupled with a geophysical survey3 and since 2016 with a geomorphological survey. The goal is to locate ancient sites with the help of remote sensing, information from locals, oral history, maps and Hittite texts. Of particular importance for the project are the two, treaties between Hattushili III and Ulmi Teshup and Tuthalija IV and Kurunta, since these define the frontiers of Tarhuntassa and Hatti, which cuts across the area we cover.4
5Detailed records are made of the ancient settlements (site sketches, photographs, drone images if the weather condition allows it, sketch of pottery collection units, GPS points, google map images). The region is extremely windy and even at the best of times it is difficult to take drone images. The few images which could be shot are due to meticulous and steady work of Murat Erün. From 2013-2015 collecting pottery from archaeological sites and taking it for further study to the university was restricted. This regulation was changed by the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums for the 2016 field season.
6Generally, the pottery is collected within sample units. The top of the höyük is collected separately, the slopes and the area around is divided into sample units. The pottery is photographed on the site and a small assemblage representing the Bronze and Iron Ages was taken with the permission of the Ereğli Museum to Koç University for further analyses and studies. However, during the 2017 field season they have to taken back to the sample area they were collected. During the first three days of the 2016 field season we collected representative assemblages from Ereğli Karahöyük, Zencirli Höyük, Akhüyük, Eskışla Dikilli Taş Mevkii, İbizlik Kalesi Ören Yeri and Çiller Höyük (Map 1), which are some of the most important sites of the region, representing Bronze to Iron Age settlement sequences. The shards will be returned to the site during the 2017 field season.
Map 1
Settlements and tumuli identified and surveyed from 2013-2016.
7An important study was conducted in Ambarderesi in İvriz by Kuruçayırlı, Gürcan and Çarkı, who investigated the cave across the Neo Hittite relief and also prepared plans of the cave. The cave hasn’t been previously investigated and the plans of it included here are the first to be published. The palaeoenvironmental research survey was conducted by Dr. Catherine Kuzucuoğlu, Dr. Ali Gürel and Müslüm Demir from 21 to 27 June 2016 in the marshes of Akgöl in Adabağ. One of the objectives is to identify spots possibly containing the sediment records capable of delivering time-controlled and high resolution palaeoenvironmental records (Fig. 1). Every season we are trying to combine our archaeological field work with communal work to enhance the notion of heritage protection. In 2016 we organized an exhibition in the Ereğli Museum with photos taken by Jospehine Powell and a class on Anatolian archaeology at YBO (Yatılı Bölge Okulu) in Halkapınar. The following section provides a detailed introduction to the surveyed sites and investigated regions investigated.
Fig. 1
Palaeoenvironmental research in Akgöl.
- 5 Mellaart 1963.
- 6 Güneri 1989, 1990: 324.
- 7 Bahar 2002, Bahar and Koçak 2004, Bahar and Küçükbezci 2012: 105-106.
8For the 2016 field season, three regions were selected, which comprise districts within the borders of the provinces of Karapınar, Emirgazi and Halkapınar. Investigations in Emirgazi and Halkapınar had begun in 2014 and the survey of Karapınar started during this field season. Certain sites in Karapınar had been surveyed previously by (in chronological order) James Mellaart5, Semih Güneri6 and Hasan Bahar7. The sites the KEYAR team surveyed in Karapınar (which are listed below No 56, 57, 58, 59, 61 - see also Table 1) have been also surveyed by Güneri and Bahar.
Table 1
Settlement number
|
Settlement name
|
Province and district
|
Altitude (m)
|
56
|
Sırnık Höyük
|
Karapınar, Hotamış
|
1029
|
57
|
Eşektepesi Höyük
|
Karapınar, Ortaoba
|
1017
|
58
|
Erkinlik (Kaynak) Höyük
|
Karapınar, Ortaoba
|
1029
|
59
|
Gedemen Höyük
|
Karapınar, Küçükaşlama
|
1024
|
60
|
Ambarderesi Mağara
|
Halkapınar, İvriz
|
1495
|
61
|
Yağmapınar Höyük
|
Karapınar, Yağmapınar
|
1044
|
62
|
İvriz Kalesi
|
Halkapınar, İvriz
|
1365
|
- 8 Eski Kesmez is located on the slopes of Karacadağ, the survey of Eski Kesmez will be conducted in 2 (...)
9In the 2016 field season the districts (mahalle) of Yeni Kesmez8, Oymalı, Yağmapınar, Yeşilyurt, Gölören, Işıklar, Karaören, Meşeli, Ekizli on the Karacadağ were investigated. A systematical survey in the region of the dry Hotamış lake was conducted which include the districts of Hotamış, Küçükaşlama and Ortaoba. In Halkapınar the cave in Ambarderesi and the İvriz castle were investigated and surveyed. In total seven new sites were registered (Table 1, Map 1), which are explained in detail below.
- 9 Güneri 1990: 324.
- 10 Bahar and Koçak 2004: 13-16.
10The settlement is located 6.6 km northeast of the district of Hotamış (Map 1, No 56). The ancient settlement is located close to the Hotamış lake, which has dried-out in recent years. The höyük is ca 480 x 300 m large and ca 28 m high. Pottery is scattered over an area of 750 m. On the northeastern side an illicit excavation (ca 5 m deep and 2.5 m wide) was dug with a digger. The pottery in the profile and on the ground all date to the Iron Age, which suggests that there is at least 5 m accumulation of Iron Age layers. Large building slabs are scattered around in the adjacent fields. The pottery from the site indicates an occupation from the Early Bronze to the Roman period. Especially the Iron Age pottery is very dominant (Fig. 3) Sırnık Höyük is also mentioned by Güneri, who believes that this is one of the most important post classical sites in the region9. Bahar and Koçak argue that this is the most important Late Bronze Age site of the region and also that shards of a Mycenaean jar, jugs and bowls were found here10.
Fig. 2
Sırnık Höyük (drone image).
Fig. 3
Sırnık Höyük pottery assemblage.
- 11 Mentioned by Güneri as Eşşek Tepesi. The registration list of the Konya Protection Board has regist (...)
- 12 Güneri 1990: 324.
11Eşektepesi Höyük is located 1.7 km west of the district of Hotamış (Map 1, No 57)11. The höyük is situated on the west side of the Hotamış-Ortaoba land route. The mound is shallow, about 4 m high and ca 220 x 380 m large. The pottery is scattered ca 170 m around the site. No architectural remains were discovered. The pottery which was found on the surface dates mainly to the Iron Age (Fig. 5). However, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that the site was only occupied during the Iron Age, maybe the shards of the earlier levels were not on the surface. Güneri argues that it is an important site for the 3rd and 2nd Millennium B.C.12
Fig. 4
Eşektepesi Höyük.
Fig. 5
Eşektepesi Höyük pottery assemblage.
- 13 Also, Güneri mentions the same periods. Güneri 1990: 325.
12Erkinlik Höyük is known as Ortaoba Höyük by the locals. The settlement is located 2.7 km northeast of the district of Ortaoba (Map 1, No 58). The höyük is ca 400 x 350 m large and ca 27 m high. The pottery is scattered around the höyük over an area of ca 0.5 km. According to the villagers the northern side was once on the shore of the Hotamış lake: today this area is used as a field for agriculture. Villagers mentioned that around 200 m south of the höyük graves were discovered, however, we didn’t see any remains only a few Roman pottery shards were scattered on the ground. The pottery of the höyük settlement shows a sequence from Early Bronze Age until the Iron Age (Fig. 7)13.
Fig. 6
Erkinlik (Kaynak) Höyük.
Fig. 7
Erkinlik (Kaynak) höyük pottery assemblage.
13Gedemen Höyük is known by the locals as Küçükaşlama Höyük. The höyük settlement is located 2 km south of the district for Küçükaşlama (Map 1, No 59). The settlement is ca 280 x 230 m in area and ca 22 m high. The pottery diffusion around the höyük could not be determined, as the area is used for agriculture, and we couldn’t go through the plants. The pottery from the höyük dates to from the Early Bronze Age to the Iron Age (Fig. 9). Güneri mentions that many his assemblages’ date to the 3rd, 2nd Millennia and Medieval period14.
Fig. 8
Gedemen Höyük.
Fig. 9
Edemen höyük pottery assemblage.
14A local villager indicated that there are remains of a stone paved road within the fields, which is called the “king’s road – kral yolu”. Apparently, this stone paved road is located on the southwestern side of Gedemen Höyük, however villagers have dismantled the road partially in the past years from to build the stone foundations of their houses. Since crops abundantly covered the ground and there was no space to walk in between, this stone paved road was not visible in the field. However, I have seen remains of a stone paved road parallel to the southern shore of Akgöl close to Böğücek (Karaman district). The road was indicated to me by a shephard in 2015 when we were surveying the vicinity of Adabağ and Akgöl. This paved road connected several small höyüks on the southern flank of Akgöl (all in the Karaman district). This road could be a loop or continuation of the so called “royal road”, which is mentioned by Herodotus. The Persian royal road was passing through the Cilician Gate, and continued via Kybistra to the west to Sardis15.
15On November 17th 2015 while walking down the gorge of Ambarderesi to İvriz together with the architect Sinan Omacan, an outstanding find was made unexpectedly. Among thousands of stones Omacan found in the dried-out river bed a fragment of a stele inscribed with three Luwian hieroglyphs (Fig. 10). This is the first fragment of a stele with Luwian hieroglyphs from Ambarderesi, its importance is indescribable. The limestone fragment is 17 x 13 cm large, and was registered with the Etüdlük number Et. 1752 in the Ereğli Museum. Three signs are visible:
wa/i
tu
zi
Fig. 10
Fragment of a stele with Luwian hieroglyphs from Ambardere (İvriz).
- 16 I would like to thank Prof. Hawkins sincerely for his kind help in translitteration of the signs an (...)
16According to J. David Hawkins wa/i-tu could be the beginning of a sentence (‟to him ...”), -wa/i-tu could be the end of a word, zi could be related, or might be separate. There also appears to be a further sign below the line divider16.
- 17 Hawkins 2000a: 516-8, Hawkins 2000b: Pl. 292-95, Dinçol 1994.
17This remarkable fragment of a probably larger inscribed stele was located either in front of or in the vicinity of the relief in Ambarderesi and was washed down by the river in recent centuries. Three stele fragments with Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions, and one bilingual with Luwian and Phoenician inscriptions have been discovered in İvriz17. The Ambarderesi fragment is an important indication that there was one or more inscribed stelai in front of the relief in Ambarderesi likely placed by Warpalawas to praise the weather god.
- 18 Maner 2015: 8.
- 19 An extensive article on the research in the cave is forthcoming. Maner and Kuruçayırlı forthcoming.
18The main aim of the 2016 season in Ambaderesi was to survey and investigate the cave (Table 1, No 60) which is located just next to the main church of the monastery (known by the locals as Kızlar Oğlanlar Sarayı) and ca 100 m to the south of the Neo Hittite relief. In 2015 during an extensive survey in Ambarderesi the cave was superficially investigated however the ground was very slippery and the deeper we went into the cave it seemed impossible to continue. Also, the sound of a strong water flow was frightening and we decided to leave further investigation for the 2016 field season with specialists18. The cave hasn’t been investigated previously, the only archaeological object from this cave is a small jar in the Ereğli museum, dating to the Middle Iron age19.
- 20 Multi hollow anvil stones or rocks bear circular indentations, which were used to crush ores, howev (...)
- 21 Haas 1994: 780.
- 22 Kohlmeier 1983.
- 23 Kohlmeier 1983.
19The cave is located across the Neo Hittite relief in Ambarderesi and consists of a main part and a branch (Fig. 11-13). The main part of the cave is 57 m long and the deepest point of the cave is - 12 m (Fig. 13). Generally, the cave is dry, in some places water is seeping out of the rock. The sound of rushing water, which was heard in September 2015, was not present in June 2016. There are few stalactites in the cave. Left of the entrance of the cave is another section, whose entrance is mere 0.5 m high so that it is only possible to enter that part by crawling. This section is 7 m long, 2.5 m wide, and has an elevation of %33. Two sherds were found in the deep pit, they probably date to the Middle or Late Iron Age. Just in front of the main entrance of the cave a cup-mark (also known as libation hole) (ca dm: 0.29 m, depth: 0.24 m) is carved into the rock (Fig. 14). The reason why it is thought to have been used for libation is its depth20. Cup-marks were used to pour liquid offerings to the gods, which is described for example in the Hittite AN.TAH.SUM ritual21. They are known to be connected to Hittite rock reliefs of the Late Bronze Age, such as the libation holes on the rock plateau above the Fıraktin relief22 or at Sirkeli, above the relief of Muwatalli II23.
Fig. 11
Entrance to the cave in Ambardere.
Fig. 12
Plan of the cave in Ambardere.
Fig. 13
Longitudinal section of the cave in Ambardere.
Fig. 14
Libation hole in front of the cave in Ambardere.
- 24 Haas 1994: 127-136, 460-465.
- 25 Haas 1994: 127, 464.
20The Hittites deified springs, mountains and caves24. According to Hittite belief the netherworld was just below the inhabited world, and the entrance to the netherworld are the caves. Springs, wells and ponds are related with the netherworld as well. The weather god of Nerik descends through a cave and a spring to the netherworld and rises from there25. The Hittites chose Ambarderesi probably because of the combination of the cave, the springs and the mountains, the Hittite version of the holy trinity. The cultural and social memory of the springs, river, Mount Bolkar and the cave, were adapted by the people who built a monastery here in the Middle Byzantine period.
21Yağmapınar Höyük is one of the largest settlements in the Karapınar region, and was an important settlement during the Iron Age and probably a significant center throughout the ages being located on important road networks. Well preserved pottery from this site are in private collections and in several museums including the Konya and Ereğli Museums26. The site is located on the road from Karapınar to Emirgazi on the eastern shore of the dried out Sultaniye Sazlığı Lake (Map 1, No 61). At the entrance of the turnout there is a little mosque which is known as Kıçıkışla mescidi.
22Yağmapınar Höyük is 26 km northeast of Karapınar and 4 km south of the Kıçıkışla village (also known as Yeşilyurt). The höyük is oval shaped and is ca 280 m x 220 large and ca 26 m high. Because shepherds built pens on the top of the höyük using scattered building stones, the top of the mound is highly disturbed and no ancient architecture is preserved. The slopes are steep, on the northern slope an obelisk like rectangular shaped pillar is standing, perhaps a pillar of a gate? Small boulders are scattered over the southern slope, probably the remains of a fortification wall. The whole mound was covered with high dry grass, which made it difficult to find pottery. The areas adjacent to the mound are used as fields with animal pens. In the fields to the southeast pottery is scattered over an area of ca 500 m x 600 m.
- 27 Bahar 2002: 258.
- 28 Zoroğlu 1991.
23The pottery mostly dates to the Iron Age and Roman period (Fig. 16). This does not preclude the presence of earlier periods, we probably just couldn’t find it. Bahar who also surveyed the site observed pottery from the 2nd Millennium B.C., the Iron Age and the Roman period27. To the south there are tumulus like hills. It is not obvious whether they are natural or artificial. Zoroğlu identified the pottery which is now in private collections and museums as Middle or Late Phrygian Ware and Ionian Ware28. He indicates that villagers pointed out that the pottery was looted from graves located to the south.
Fig. 15
Yağmapınar Höyük.
Fig. 16
Yağmapınar Höyük pottery assemblage.
- 29 Apparently, the name Ardos is deriving from the Hittite word ardu, which is a name of a bird. Hild (...)
24İvriz Kalesi (also known as Ardos Kalesi)29 is located on an outcrop ca 0.8 km southwest of the İvriz relief (Fig. 17). The fort can be reached through a narrow path just opposite of the relief, it is a very steep and slippery path. A second option is to walk up Ambarderesi until the first canyon and then walk up to the northeast.
Fig. 17
İvriz Kalesi.
- 30 Karauğuz and Kunt 2006: 41.
25The fort is located on a triangular shaped outcrop and is ca 364 x 120 m large30. The fortification wall is built on the natural rock and follows the edges of the outcrop. The slope of the northern and eastern part is steep. The south-western and western fortification wall is well preserved, there is a break through the middle part of the wall. The building stones are roughly shaped which gives the wall a pseudo isodomic appearance. Two towers are preserved on the western side. In the northwest – inside the fort – the remains of a building built of medium sized boulders fixed with mortar are preserved.
- 31 Hild and Restle 1981: 148, fig. 10.
- 32 Karauğuz and Kunt 2006.
- 33 Maner 2016.
- 34 Maner 2016: 232-234.
- 35 Maner 2017.
26Hild and Restle date the fort to the Byzantine period. They argue that the fort was built to protect the road from Herakleia (Tont Kalesi) to Mundas (Kayasaray)31. Karauğuz and Kunt date the fortification wall to the Iron Age and assume that the buildings inside were also used during the Ottoman period32. However, parts of the fortification wall as well as the walls of the buildings inside the fort are made with mortar which dates these probably to the Late Antiqutity. No pottery was found during the survey. It is likely that this fort was built on a Late Bronze Age or Iron Age forerunner. The results of the 2015 survey season showed that the ancient settlements in İvriz are located on slopes and hilltops33. One of the reasons must have been the rising water from the underground springs during certain periods of the year34. Probably the road was passing from Herakleia (Tont Kalesi), which is likely the Hittite town Hupisna35, to İvriz Kalesi, then to Dibek Kalesi and from Dibek to Kayasaray. The location of the fort also protects the way up to Ambarderesi, where the second Neo-Hittite relief and the monastery are located. It seems likely that it protected several routes.
27The Karacadağ is a volcanic mountain which covers an area of ca 150 square km and its highest peak is 1995 m36. The massive is located northeast of Karapınar and stretches from southwest to northeast. The explosion of the Karacadağ caused two crater lakes, which are Acıgöl and Tuzla Gölü, also known as Meke Tuzlası.
28Getrude L. Bell is the only one who has conducted small investigations on Karacadağ. On July 1st 1907 she went on a horseback to Se Kalesi (Segh Kalesi in her diary) and drew a plan of it37. She camped in Ovacık (Ovajik in her diary) and the next day she explored Mennak Kalesi and Kurşuncu Monastery38. Her diary entries are important as they are illuminating the region as seen 110 years ago.
- 39 Maner 2015a: 250, 2016: 230.
29Our survey of the Karacadağ started in 2014 and continued in 201539. During the 2016 season Oymalı, Yağmapınar, Yeşilyurt, Gölören, Işıklar, Karaören, Meşeli and Ekizli were investigated. The flora of the Karacadağ region is different from the semi-arid Karapınar and Hotamış plain. Karacadağ is very green and has many underground water sources. Traditional houses are built of dark-grey basalt stone. Locals say that the oldest settlements were located on the crest of the mountain and that with the time they were moved to lower parts. The area around the mountain specifically the south, west and east was covered with lakes or with marsh. Even today there are almost no settlements around Karacadağ, although the marsh has dried out.
30The investigation and surveying of the regions of Karacadağ is difficult most of the time as it includes a lot of climbing. Therefore, understanding the landscape and the settlement pattern takes time. Oral history with locals helps a lot to understand the changing settlement pattern of the Karacadağ region and to locate ancient remains. As a preliminary result, it can be said that the Karacadağ was an important settlement area especially during Late Antiqutiy. The cave settlements in Oymalı (Fig. 18), remains of large buildings made of stone in Gölören (Fig. 19), the spolia in Meşeli (Fig. 20), remains of a large settlement, graves, a water pool and water cave in Ekizli (Fig. 21-22) are some of the examples. Karaören, which is located on the north of Karacadağ, is an interesting village. Karaören was visited first in 2015 and revisited in 2016. There are remains of a large Byzantine or medieval town, with dome covered circular tombs at the corner of some buildings (Fig. 23). The stone houses of the village are mainly built with these old stones. The muhtar told us that at the beginning of the 20th century there were large churches and buildings. The stones were sold and they were carried with donkeys, oxen and camels to their next destination. A villager told us that his father sold a lot of building stones. Most of the buildings in Karapınar, Emirgazi, Kutören and Ereğli are built with the stones from Karaören. There are hundreds of spolia scattered throughout the village, some of them bear crosses, some other symbols such as circles.
Fig. 18
Entrance to one of the Late Antique cave settlements in Oymalı.
Fig. 19
Remains of the Late Antique settlement in Gölören.
Fig. 20
Spolia in Meşeli.
Fig. 21
Remains of a water pool in Ekizli.
Fig. 22
Water cave (part of the pool) in Ekizli.
Fig. 23
Circular tomb in Karaören
- 40 Tezcan 2011.
- 41 A publication by Alparslan is planned in the near future.
31A piece of very important evidence for Hittite presence is a rectangular slab with a line of hieroglyphic Luwian script. The slab was published by Nizamettin Tezcan in a poetry book40. However, that slab has been missing since 2014. Tezcan had contacted Metin Alparslan from the Hittitology Department of Istanbul University to come and visit the site to see the slab, but upon Alparslan’s arrival the stone bolder was not there anymore. Currently it is the subject of a search by Interpol. The only remains are the published photo41. During the survey we went to the house were the slab was originally located. We also talked with the owner of the house, who lives in Ereğli. He remembered very well where the slab was removed from and took us to one of the Late Antique stone houses. There weren’t any other inscribed stones. However, this shows that the people of Late Antiquity have used Hittite building stones.
32Hittite building stones became spolia in their buildings. Locals told us that their grandfathers and fathers removed all kind of scripts and images meticulously so that it doesn’t look Christian anymore.
33In the treaty between Tuthalija IV of Hatti and Kurunta of Tarhuntassa, which describes the frontiers of Tarhuntassa and Hatti, paragraph 5 indicates that a lake on Mount Arlanta is the border between the Hulaja River and Hatti:
“In the direction of the cities of Wanzataruwa and Kunzinasa, his frontier is Mount Arlanta and the city of Alana. Alana belongs to the land of the Hulaya river, but the water which is upon Mount Arlanta belongs jointly to the land of the Hulaja River and Hatti”42.
34During discussions with Prof. David Hawkins he advised me to search if there is a crater lake on Karacadağ. Analyzing the google earth map of Karacadağ a crater lake could be determined. On the map, everything seemed to be easy and smooth, however the expedition to the crater lake was the most difficult task we had so far.
35Approximately 4 km southeast of Yeşilyurt a crater known as Ovacık is located at ca 1600 m43. The crater is ca 2.4 km x 2.7 km large (Fig. 24). The area is green, there are many springs and wild horses live here, which are known as yılka. In the center of the crater the remains of a 160 x 170 m large building are visible (Fig. 25). The southern part is a necropolis, where several graves were observed. Some of them have been looted, some of them are covered or built with spolia. Part of a relief with a leg of a horse was lying next to one of the graves. We climbed up the southern side of the crater for ca 0.5 km, which was very steep and difficult as it was very rocky. It was a very hot day and when we arrived at the top our water supplies had already run out. On the southeastern and southwestern peaks of the crater two Byzantine forts are located, which are known as Mennak Kalesi and Keçi Kalesi. Kurşuncu Manastırı is close by and is located on a hill. From the top of the crater ca 700 m to the south a crater lake is located (Fig. 26). The water is very muddy. Shepherds from Kesmez and Yeşilyurt come here to pasture their animals. The meadows on the western side of the lake belong to the shepherds of Kesmez, and the eastern side to the shepherds of Yeşilyurt. If this is the crater lake which is mentioned in the treaty, then the division of the land is still the same as in the 13th century B.C. On the western side, there are several pens for the animals. One of them is built of stones which are dressed in Hittite manner (Fig. 27). A well by the lake is used to get water only for animals. The troughs are made of spolia. One of the slabs by the trough has probably few Luwian hieroglyphs, one can be identified as na. (Fig. 28). The dressed and the inscribed slab might belong to a Hittite cult monument. The heat, the strong thirst, and the search for the drone which was lost for a few hours forced us to go back. The Hittite bolders, the slab with the Luwian hieroplyphic inscription, the crater lake and the whole setting on top of a mountain are indications for a Hittite sanctuary. It reminds of the Huwasi sanctuary from Kuşaklı-Sarissa44, or Göllüdağ45. Investigations will continue at this location during the 2017 field season.
Fig. 24
Ovacık crater on Karacadağ.
Fig. 25
Remains of a large building and the road to Yeşilli in Ovacık (drone image).
Fig. 26
Crater lake on Karacadağ.
Fig. 27
Hittite building stones in the walls of a stable next to the crater lake.
Fig. 28
Slab with Luwian hieroglyphs (Karacadağ).
36With the onset of the 21st century archeology is seen through a new lens. The discipline now includes cultural heritage protection, education and communal work to create a notion, sense and understanding for locals to preserve their cultural heritage and traditions. One of the major problems we face during the survey are illicit excavations and the destruction of cultural heritage. Many people dream of finding treasure, which could be converted into money. Wherever we go, looters had been there before us, even in the most remote regions. Therefore, communal work, informing locals on cultural heritage issues and archaeology, lectures, and looking for ways to establish sustainable cultural tourism are goals of the KEYAR project.
37For the past several years, local schools have asked for lectures on archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. This season a lecture on archaeology and cultural heritage protection was presented in a local boarding school in Halkapınar (YBO – Yatılı Bölge Okulu). To create awareness on the access to heritage sites for disabled people the documentary 800 km Engelli – 800 km Hurdles by Murat Erün was screened in the garden of the Oğuz Ata complex. 800 km Engelli – 800 km Hurdles is telling the story of a thirteen day journey on motorcycle combo from Istanbul to the ancient site of Stratonicea in Muğla Yatağan by Hüseyin Eroğlu, who has considered himself a disabled for years, and the painter Aydın Erkuş. As the two friends attempt to visit the sites they always wanted to see, they also encounter access problems, as most of the time no special entrance for disabled people exists. They try to show and analyze how the society perceives and thinks about disabled people, their lives, and problems and the impact of our behaviors towards disabled people. This documentary won first prize in the TRT documentary competition of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2012.
38A photo exhibition of the American photographer Josephine Powell took place from 17 to 29 June 2016 in the courtyard of the Ereğli Museum (Fig. 29). Powell documented the life of Turkish nomads and villagers from 1974-1994. She was primarily interested in women who worked on textile. The exhibition contained photos she took in Ereğli, Karapınar, the Bolkar Mountains and Konya plain. She donated her 30,000 slides and her field notes to Koç University Suna Kıraç Library, which are all digitalized46. Among Powell’s photos were images of Ereğli in the 1970’s, with traditional civic architecture made of stone, wood and mudbrick and women knotting carpets. Today only a few of these traditional houses are preserved. The aim of the exhibition was to create awareness of the preservation of intangible and tangible heritage and how important it is to protect local cultural heritage to create and support sustainable tourism.
Fig. 29
Banner outside the Ereğli Museum of the Exhibition Josephine Powell’in Ereğli’de 1970-80’lerde Gördükleri.