SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Coğrafya Dergisi / 2026 / Sayı: 52

A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Environmental Characteristics of Tavşanlı Höyük and Its Surroundings: Geoarchaeological, Chronological, and Paleoenvironmental Assessments

Ebubekir Karakoca(BİLECİK ŞEYH EDEBALİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6454-2082
Levent Uncu(BİLECİK ŞEYH EDEBALİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3908-1157
Erkan Fidan(BİLECİK ŞEYH EDEBALİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6777-927X
Pages
33–41
Publication Date
2026-07-22
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that Tavşanlı Höyük was founded at the beginning of the Bronze Age on a ridge located along the edge of a shallow lake in a wetland environment.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Tavşanlı Höyük, a significant Bronze Age settlement in Western Anatolia, is located approximately 1 km south of the Tavşanlı district in Kütahya Province, at the centre of a wide tectonic depression known as the Tavşanlı Plain.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Geoarchaeological coring revealed anthropogenic cultural deposits ranging from 8 to 10 metres in thickness, containing traces of burning and architectural layers.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that Tavşanlı Höyük was founded at the beginning of the Bronze Age on a ridge located along the edge of a shallow lake in a wetland environment.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Tavşanlı Höyük · Radiocarbon Dating · Geoarchaeology

Abstract

Tavşanlı Höyük, a significant Bronze Age settlement in Western Anatolia, is located approximately 1 km south of the Tavşanlı district in Kütahya Province, at the centre of a wide tectonic depression known as the Tavşanlı Plain. The eastern and northern boundaries of the mound are naturally bounded by the Orhaneli Stream, which flows through the region. The primary aim of these studies was to reconstruct the palaeogeographic conditions during the initial phases of settlement and to evaluate, within a chronostratigraphic framework, how subsequent environmental changes affected the accumulation and characteristics of archaeological deposits. In line with this objective, eight boreholes were drilled in the study area, and sediment samples obtained from these cores were subjected to radiometric analyses. Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating results were used to construct a detailed chronostratigraphic framework. The findings indicate that Tavşanlı Höyük was founded at the beginning of the Bronze Age on a ridge located along the edge of a shallow lake in a wetland environment. The presence of water appears to have played a decisive role in the selection of the settlement site. This wetland environment largely persisted throughout the Bronze Age. However, over time, the Orhaneli Stream altered its course, leading to the transformation of the area into a floodplain dominated by fluvial processes. Geoarchaeological coring revealed anthropogenic cultural deposits ranging from 8 to 10 metres in thickness, containing traces of burning and architectural layers. Sediment characteristics and radiocarbon dating results show that beneath these cultural layers lie earlier occupation traces dating to the Neolithic period. These findings that settlement at Tavşanlı Höyük began approximately 8,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period, making it one of the earliest known settlement sites in Western Anatolia and within the boundaries of Kütahya Province.

🔖

Cite This Article

Karakoca, E., Uncu, L., Fidan, E. (2026). A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Environmental Characteristics of Tavşanlı Höyük and Its Surroundings: Geoarchaeological, Chronological, and Paleoenvironmental Assessments. Coğrafya Dergisi, Sayı: 52, 33–41. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2026-1812188

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (50)

  1. Ayala, G. & Wainwright, J. (2020). Çatalhöyük and its landscapes. Near Eastern Archaeology, 83(2), ss.88–97. https://doi.org/10.1086/709176
  2. Berger, J-F., Lespez, L., Kuzucuoğlu, C., & Glais, A. (2016). Interactions between climate change and human activities during the Early to Mid-Holocene in the East Mediterranean basins. Climate of the Past, 19(9), 1847-1877. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-12-1847-2016
  3. Brückner, H. (1997). Coastal changes in western Turkey; rapid delta progradation in historical times. Bulletin de l'Institut oceanographique, Monaco, 3, 63–74.
  4. Brückner, H. (2003). Delta evolution and culture-aspects of geoarchaeological research in Miletos and Priene. In G. A. Wagner, E. Pernicka, & H. P. Uerpmann (Eds.), Troia and the Troad. Scientific Approaches (pp.121-144). Springer.
  5. Brückner, H. (2005). Holocene shoreline displacements and their consequences for human societies: The example of Ephesus in western Turkey. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie N.F., 137, 11–22.
  6. Brückner, H., Müllenhoff, M., Gehrels, R., Herda, A., Knipping, M., & Vött, A. (2006). From archipelago to floodplain – Geographical and ecological changes in Miletus and its environs during the past six millennia (Western Anatolia, Turkey). Zeitschrift f. Geomorphologie N.F., 142, 63–83.
  7. Bronk Ramsey, C., & Lee, S. (2013). Recent and planned developments of the program OxCal. Radiocarbon, 55 (2-3), 720-730. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200057878
  8. Butzer, K. W. (1964). Environment and Archaeology: An introduction to Pleistocene geography. Chicago: Aldine.
  9. Doğan, U. (2005). Holocene fluvial development of the Upper Tigris Valley (Southeastern Turkey) as documented by archaeological data. Quaternary International, 129, 75–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2004.04.008
  10. Doğan, U. (2017). Jeoarkeoloji: Aşıklı Höyük örneği. Jeomorfoloji Derneği Bülteni, 1, 8-18.
  11. Efe, T. (1990). 1988 yılında Kütahya, Bilecik ve Eskişehir illerinde yapılan yüzey araştırmaları. Anadolu Araştırmaları, 12, 1-19.
  12. Engel, M., & Brückner, H. (2014). Late Quaternary environments and societies: Progress in geoarchaeology. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 58(Suppl. 2), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1127/0372-8854/2014/S-00168
  13. Erinç, S. (1955). Gediz ve K. Menderes Deltasının morfolojisi. Türk Coğrafya Kurumu Yayını, 2, 35-66.
  14. Erol, O. (1963). Asi Nehri Deltasının jeomorfolojisi ve Dördüncü Zaman deniz-akarsu sekileri. Dil ve Tarih Coğrafya Fakültesi Yayınları, No:149, Ankara.
  15. Erol, O. (1972). Konya, Tuz Gölü, Burdur havzalarındaki pluvial göllerin çekilme safhalarının jeomorfolojik delilleri. Coğrafya Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3-4, 16-52.
  16. Erol, O. (1983). Paleoekolojik araştırmalarda jeomorfolojinin önemi. TÜBİTAK Arkeometri Ünitesi Bilimsel Topl. Bildirileri III, 13-30. Ankara.
  17. Erol, O., Akkan, E., Elibüyük, M., & Doğu, A. F. (1987). Aşağı Fırat Bölgesi'nde bugünkü ve Kuvaterner'deki doğal çevre koşulları. Aşağı Fırat Projesi 1978–1979 Çalışmaları, ODTÜ Aşağı Fırat Projesi Yayınları, Seri 1, No: 3, 1-13, Ankara.
  18. Fidan, E. (2021). Geo-archaeological and geophysical investigation on the Early Bronze Age layers of Tavşanlı Höyük (Inland Western Anatolia). Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 21(2), 211–225. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5057560
  19. Fidan, E., Uncu, L., & Karakoca, E. (2021a). Bronze Age survey on Tavşanlı Höyük (Kütahya, Turkey): Preliminary results. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi / The Journal of International Social Research, 14(79), 27–35.
  20. Fidan, E., Uncu, L., & Karakoca, E. (2021b). Hacıkebir Höyük’te (Kütahya) Jeoarkeolojik Araştırmaların İlk Sonuçları. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 38(1), 238-247, http://doi.org/10.32600/huefd.819616
  21. Fidan, E. & Seçer Fidan, S. (2025). Tavşanlı Höyük: Bronze Age interactions between inland western Anatolia and the Aegean World. Ege 14th International Conference on Social Sciences, 264-270.
  22. İlhan, R., Karadaş, A., Vardar, S. & Öner, E. (2022). Yeni sondajlar ışığında Çine Tepecik Höyüğü’nün paleocoğrafya ve jeoarkeolojisi (Çine-Aydın). Erciyes Akademi, 36 (4), 2086-2104, https://doi.org/10.48070/erciyesakademi. 1193688
  23. Karakoca, E., & Uncu, L. (2022). Jeoarkeoloji’nin tarihsel gelişim süreci ve yeni bir yaklaşım olarak dijital jeoarkeoloji. In E. Öner (Ed.), Ayhan Sür ve Özdoğan Sür anısına paleocoğrafya ve jeoarkeoloji araştırmaları, 449–460, Ege Yayınları. E-ISBN:978-605-338-372-7.
  24. Karakoca, E., & Uncu, L. (2025). Tavşanlı Höyük Çevresinde Paleocoğrafya Araştırmaları (Tavşanlı-Kütahya). In İ. Çiçek, E. Öner & R. İlhan (Eds.), Fiziki coğrafya araştırmaları I, 191-200, Ege Yayınları. E-ISBN: 978-605-338-474-8
  25. Kayan, İ. (2002). Paleogeographical reconstruction on the plain along the western foot-slope of Troy. Mauerschau:Festschrift für Manfred Korfmann. Band 3.
  26. Kayan, İ. (2006). Mit dem Kernbohrer in die Vergangenheit: Geoarchäologische Interpretationen der holozänen Sedimente in der Troas. In M. Korfmann (Ed.), Archäologie eines Siedlungshügels und seiner Landschaft (pp. 317–328). Philipp von Zabern.
  27. Kayan, İ. (2014). Geoarchaeological research at Troia and its environs. Studia Troica, Monographien 5, (Troia 1987-2012: Grabungen und Forschungen I. Forschungsgeschichte, Methoden und Landschaft), 694-727, Germany.
  28. Kayan, İ. (2018). Jeoarkeoloji ve paleocoğrafa araştırmalarının arkeolojideki yeri. In S. Ünlüsoy, C. Çakırlar, & Ç. Çilingiroğlu (Eds.), Arkeolojide Temel Yöntemler (pp. 17–67). Ege Yayınları.
  29. Kayan, İ., Doğan, M., İlhan, R., Karadaş, A., Yavaşlı, D. D., & Aslan, R. (2021). Geç Tunç Çağı Troya savunma hendeği araştırmalarına jeoarkeolojik katkılar. Arkeoloji Dergisi, 1(26), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.51493/egearkeoloji.868160
  30. Kayan, İ. (2023). Troya ve çevresinde paleocoğrafya araştırmaları ve jeoarkeolojik değerlendirmeler. In. R. Aslan & E. Öner (Eds.), Manfred Osman KORFMANN Anısına Arkeoloji- Paleocoğrafya -Jeoarkeoloji Araştırmaları II, pp. 11-60, Ege Üniversitesi Yayınları Edebiyat Fakültesi Yayın No: 225, İzmir.
  31. Kayan, İ., Doğan, M., İlhan, R., Karadaş, A., Yavaşlı, D. D., Aslan, R. (2023). Geç Tunç Çağı Troya savunma hendeği araştırmalarına jeoarkeolojik katkılar. In. R. Aslan & E. Öner (Eds.), Manfred Osman KORFMANN anısına Arkeoloji-Paleocoğrafya-Jeoarkeoloji araştırmaları II, pp. 67-92, Ege Üniversitesi Yayınları Edebiyat Fakültesi Yayın No: 225, İzmir.
  32. Kraft, J. C., Kayan, I., Brückner, H., & Rapp, G. (2000). A geological analysis of ancient landscapes and the harbors of Ephesus and the Artemision in Anatolia. Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes, 69, 175–232.
  33. Kraft, J. C., Kayan, I., Brückner, H., & Rapp, G. (2003). Sedimentary facies patterns and the interpretation of paleogeographies of ancient Troia. In G. A. Wagner, E. Pernicka, & H. P. Uerpmann (Eds.), Troia and the Troad: Scientific Approaches (pp. 361–377). Springer.
  34. Kraft, J. C., Rapp, G., Brückner, H., & Kayan, İ. (2011). Results of the struggle at ancient Ephesus: Natural processes 1, human intervention 0. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 352, 27–36. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP352
  35. Kuzucuoğlu, C. (2002). Preliminary observations on the Tigris Valley and terraces between Bismil and Batman. In N. Tuna & J. Velibeyoğlu (Eds.), Salvage Project of the Archaeological Heritage of the Ilısu-Carchemish Dam Reservoirs: Activities in 2000 (pp. 759–771). METU Press.
  36. Kuzucuoğlu, C. (2013). Geomorphology of the Melendiz River in Cappadocia (Turkey): Setting of pre-pottery Neolithic sites of Aşıklı and Musular, and climate reconstruction during the onset of the Holocene. Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria, 36(1), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.4461/GFDQ.2013.36.7
  37. Kuzucuoğlu, C., Dumoulin, J.-P., Saulnier-Copard, S. & Özbaşaran, M. (2019). Off-site environmental sequences around Aşıklı Höyük PPN site (Central Anatolia, Turkey). HAL Archive-03942030
  38. Öner, E. (1997). Esen Çayı taşkın-delta ovasının jeomorfolojisi ve antik Patara Limanı. Ege Coğrafa Dergisi, 9, 89-131.
  39. Rapp, G. Jr. & Christopher, L. H. (1998). Geoarchaeology, Yale University Press, 274 pp.
  40. Reimer P.J., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J. W., Blackwell, P. G., Ramsey, C. B., Buck, C. E., Cheng, H., Edwards, R. L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P. M., Guilderson, T. P., …, Turney, C. S. M. & Plicht, J. (2013). IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon, 55(4), 1869-1887. https://doi.org/10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16947
  41. Roberts, N., Black, S., Boyer, P., Eastwood, W.J., Griffiths, H.I., Lamb, H.F., Leng, M.J., Parish, R., Reed, J.M., Twigg, D., & Yiğitbaşıoğlu, H. (1999). Chronology and Stratigraphy of Late Quaternary Sediments in the Konya Basin, Turkey: Results from the KOPAL Project. Quaternary Science Reviews, 18, 611-630. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-3791(98)00100-0
  42. Seçer Fidan, S., & Fidan, E. (2024). Kütahya Tavşanlı Höyük’ten Son Tunç Çağı’na ait bir mühür. In A. Kapuci, S. Kaygısız, Z. Erdinç, & F. Ç. Özcan (Eds.), A. Nejat Bilgen’e Armağan. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları. ISBN: 978-605-396-645-6.
  43. Shillito, L. & Matthews, W. (2013). Geoarchaeological investigations of midden-formation processes in the Early to Late Ceramic Neolithic levels at Çatalhöyük, Turkey ca. 8550–8370 cal BP. Geoarchaeology, 28(1), ss.25–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21427
  44. Stock, F., Knipping, M., Pint, A., Ladstätter, S., Delile, H., Heiss, A. G., … Brückner, H. (2016). Human impact on Holocene sediment dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean – The example of the Roman harbour of Ephesus. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41, 980–996.
  45. Stock, F., Seyer, M., Symanczyk, A., & Uncu, L. (2020). On the geoarchaeology of Limyra (SW Anatolia)-new insights into the famous Lycian city and its environs. Geoarchaeology. 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3914
  46. Turoğlu, H. (2011). Reconstructing the paleoland use of Urartian period for Yoncatepe archaeologic site (Van, Turkey). Çantay Kitapevi.
  47. Uncu, L., & Karakoca, E. (2023). Türkmen-Karahöyük (Çumra-Konya) Erken Tunç Çağı yerleşmesinin jeoarkeolojik bir yaklaşımla değerlendirilmesi. In. R. Aslan & E. Öner (Eds.), Manfred Osman Korfmann anısına arkeoloji - paleocoğrafya – jeoarkeoloji araştırmaları II, 553-562, Ege Yayınları. E-ISBN: 978-605-338-441-0
  48. Uzdurum, M., Mentzer, S.M., Duru, G., Kuzucuoğlu, C. & Özbaşaran, M. (2023). Kerpiç production and environmental dynamics in an early sedentary community: micromorphological evidence from Aşıklı Höyük, Central Anatolia (Turkey). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 15, 204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-023-01904-3
  49. Vardar, S. (2018). Ödemiş ovasında Beytepe (Karakova) höyüğünde paleocoğrafya – jeoarkeoloji araştırmaları. Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 16(1), 151-172. https://doi.org/10.18026/cbayarsos.411488
  50. Wilkinson, T. J. (1999). Holocene valley fills of Southern Turkey and Northwestern Syria: Recent geoarchaeological contributions. Quaternary Science Reviews, 18(4), 555-571. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-3791(98)00097-3