Oluz Höyük kazısı üçüncü dönem (2009) çalışmaları: Değerlendirmeler ve sonuçlar

Abstract

Amasya province is located in the interior part of the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey and Oluz Höyük is found within the borders of Gökhöyük Agricultural Operation Management on the twenty-seventh kilometer of Amasya-Çorum highway. Oluz Höyük lies in the fertile Geldingen plains watered by River Çekerek, an important tributary to Yeşilırmak, flowing south of the mound. Oluz Höyük lies 2 km northwest of Gözlek Village, about 5 km east of Toklucak (former Oluz) Village and 3 km south of Amasya-Çorum highway. The mound measures 280 x 260 m. It rises about 15 m above the plain level (478,78 m above the sea level) and covers an area of ca. 45.000 sq. m. The 2009 campaign at Oluz Höyük was conducted in two stages: 1st Stage - Archaeogeophysical Surveys: As architectural remains buried under the soil have different properties than the soil, geophysical surveying are extensively used in archaeological works. In the recent years geophysical methods have been used to compile information about the remains buried at archaeological sites. Equipment and software have considerably advanced in parallel to the increasing demand for obtaining quick results at shallow depths. Asst. Prof. Fethi Ahmet Yüksel carried out geomagnetic surveys in the grid-squares H 14-17,1 10-16, J 10-13, K 10-13, 16 and L 10-13 covering an area of 2000 sq. m. The work lasted from 17 to 20 August 2009. The aim was to obtain data regarding possible building remains with their depths, extensions and locations. 2rd Stage - Archaeological Excavations: Excavations at Oluz Höyük were conducted at three areas, namely trenches A, B and C. Work initiated in Trench A in 2007 continued with further enlarging and deepening the area. Trench A comprises grid-squares I 14,1 15,1 16,1 17, J 14, J 15, J 16, K 14, K 15, K 16, L 14, L 15 and L 16 covering a total area of 1300 sq. m and reaching an elevation difference of an average 2,20 m from 47.7,90 m down to 474,30 m. Four building layers have been identified. Like Trench A, Trench B was also initiated in 2007 and the work there continued with further enlarging and deepening. Trench B comprises grid-squares X 17, W 16, W 17, Q 16 and Q 17 covering a total area of 500 sq. m. It reached a depth from 469,35 m down to 465,97 m. Eight building layers have been identified. Trench C was excavated in 2008 and. It covers an area of 100 sq. m at the junction of grid-squares R 16-17. It was excavated from 472,70 m down to 472,20 m. A single building layer was identified. Consequently, after a 38-day work in three trenches (A, B, C) eight architectural layers in an area of 2100 m2. The first four layers of trenches A and B appear to be contemporary, particularly judging from the on coins and potsherds. In addition, 3rd Architectural Layer of Trench C was found to be the contemporary with the 3rd layers of trenches A and B. In this regard, Layer 0 of Oluz Höyük can be dated to Medieval Ages, 1st Architectural Layer to the Hellenistic Period (2nd century BC - the first half of 1st century BC), 2nd Architectural Layer to the Late Phase of Late Iron Age (first quarter of 5th century - 3rd centuries BC), 3rd Architectural Layer to the Early Phase of Late Iron Age (5th century BC) and 4th Architectural Layer to the Early Phase of Late Iron Age (6th century BC). 5th and 6th Architectural Layers in Trench B are dated to 7th, 8th and 9th centuries BC respectively. 7th Architectural Layer belongs to the Late Bronze Age, i.e. Hittite Imperial Period (15th - 13th centuries BC). 8th Architectural Layer dates roughly to Early Bronze Age, (4th - 3rd Millennium BC) especially according to potsherds found.