Outline of Elmacıktepe Mound (Bafra Plain, Samsun) in the Chalcolithic Age

Cahide Gizem Özbilgin; Atila Türker; Semih Yaşar Çizikci

Makale detayları

Outline of Elmacıktepe Mound (Bafra Plain, Samsun) in the Chalcolithic Age

Yazarlar:

Cahide Gizem Özbilgin | Atila Türker | Semih Yaşar Çizikci

Yayıncı:

Ondokuz Mayıs University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Dergi:

PROPONTICA Vol.3 Issue 6, pp.273-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359013

pISSN:

2980-132X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 ABSTRACT This article focuses on the Chalcolithic finds uncovered at the Elmacıktepe Mound, examined during the archaeological surface surveys conducted in the Bafra Plain between 2017 and 2019. With its diameter and elevation, Elmacıktepe is one of the largest mounds in the Black Sea Region. The surface survey employed a restricted area method, which revealed that Chalcolithic ceramics and small finds were concentrated on the western slope of the mound. The ceramic assemblage is dominated by local characteristics, primarily consisting of dark-faced burnished and unburnished wares. These are followed by vessels with lightdark brown and red surface colors. Vessel forms range from bowls and dishes to jars, some featuring lug handles, short necks, or no necks at all. Decorations executed in white paint on dark backgrounds, as well as incised and excised relief motifs, represent the most conspicuous indicators of interaction with Central and Western Anatolia during the Chalcolithic period. This also suggests that the settlement may have participated in cultural exchanges or shared production traditions. Small finds include stone weights, stone adzes, a marble bracelet fragment and blade, grinding stones, a chipped stone assemblage, and terra-cotta biconical sling bullets, all recovered from the western slope. However, the sites location and the presence of stone tools suggest that a period of conflict may have occurred in the region. Together, these findings reflecting diversity in production, subsistence strategies, and cultural interaction demonstrate that Elmacıktepe was a significant settlement in the Middle and Late Chalcolithic periods. Given its potential for Black Sea and Chalcolithic studies, including Elmacıktepe among the targets of systematic excavation would be of strategic importance.

 ABSTRACT This article focuses on the Chalcolithic finds uncovered at the Elmacıktepe Mound, examined during the archaeological surface surveys conducted in the Bafra Plain between 2017 and 2019. With its diameter and elevation, Elmacıktepe is one of the largest mounds in the Black Sea Region. The surface survey employed a restricted area method, which revealed that Chalcolithic ceramics and small finds were concentrated on the western slope of the mound. The ceramic assemblage is dominated by local characteristics, primarily consisting of dark-faced burnished and unburnished wares. These are followed by vessels with lightdark brown and red surface colors. Vessel forms range from bowls and dishes to jars, some featuring lug handles, short necks, or no necks at all. Decorations executed in white paint on dark backgrounds, as well as incised and excised relief motifs, represent the most conspicuous indicators of interaction with Central and Western Anatolia during the Chalcolithic period. This also suggests that the settlement may have participated in cultural exchanges or shared production traditions. Small finds include stone weights, stone adzes, a marble bracelet fragment and blade, grinding stones, a chipped stone assemblage, and terra-cotta biconical sling bullets, all recovered from the western slope. However, the sites location and the presence of stone tools suggest that a period of conflict may have occurred in the region. Together, these findings reflecting diversity in production, subsistence strategies, and cultural interaction demonstrate that Elmacıktepe was a significant settlement in the Middle and Late Chalcolithic periods. Given its potential for Black Sea and Chalcolithic studies, including Elmacıktepe among the targets of systematic excavation would be of strategic importance.

 ABSTRACT This article focuses on the Chalcolithic finds uncovered at the Elmacıktepe Mound, examined during the archaeological surface surveys conducted in the Bafra Plain between 2017 and 2019. With its diameter and elevation, Elmacıktepe is one of the largest mounds in the Black Sea Region. The surface survey employed a restricted area method, which revealed that Chalcolithic ceramics and small finds were concentrated on the western slope of the mound. The ceramic assemblage is dominated by local characteristics, primarily consisting of dark-faced burnished and unburnished wares. These are followed by vessels with lightdark brown and red surface colors. Vessel forms range from bowls and dishes to jars, some featuring lug handles, short necks, or no necks at all. Decorations executed in white paint on dark backgrounds, as well as incised and excised relief motifs, represent the most conspicuous indicators of interaction with Central and Western Anatolia during the Chalcolithic period. This also suggests that the settlement may have participated in cultural exchanges or shared production traditions. Small finds include stone weights, stone adzes, a marble bracelet fragment and blade, grinding stones, a chipped stone assemblage, and terra-cotta biconical sling bullets, all recovered from the western slope. However, the sites location and the presence of stone tools suggest that a period of conflict may have occurred in the region. Together, these findings reflecting diversity in production, subsistence strategies, and cultural interaction demonstrate that Elmacıktepe was a significant settlement in the Middle and Late Chalcolithic periods. Given its potential for Black Sea and Chalcolithic studies, including Elmacıktepe among the targets of systematic excavation would be of strategic importance.

 Bu makale, Bafra Ovasında 2017-2019 yılları arasında yürütülen arkeolojik yüzey araştırmaları sırasında incelenen Elmacıktepe Höyüğündeki Kalkolitik Çağ buluntularına odaklanıyor. Elmacıktepe, çapı ve yüksekliğiyle, Karadeniz Bölgesinin en büyük höyüklerinden biridir. Yüzey araştırması daraltılmış alan yöntemiyle yapılmış, böylece keramik ve küçük buluntular bakımından Kalkolitik Çağın höyüğün batı yamacında yoğunlaştığı anlaşılmıştır. Keramiklerde yerel özellikler baskındır ve çoğu koyu yüzlü perdahlı ve perdahsız mallar grubuna aittir. Bunlara açıkkoyu kahve ve kırmızı tona sahip yüzeyi renkli mallar takip eder. Kap formları çanak ve kaselerden, bazıları mahmuz kulplu, kısa boyunlu ve boyunsuz çömleklere kadar çeşitlenir. Koyu zemin üzerine beyaz boya, çizi ve kazıma ile kabartma yöntemiyle yapılan bezemeler, Anadolunun Orta ve Batı yarısıyla Kalkolitik Çağ etkileşimini gösteren en bariz unsurları yansıtırlar. Ayrıca yerleşmenin kültürel etkileşim veya ortak üretim anlayışına sahip olduğunu da göstermektedir. Küçük buluntular taş ağırlık, taş keserler, mermerden bilezik parçası ve uç, öğütme taşları, yontma taş topluluğu ile pişmiş bikonik toprak sapan taşlarından ibarettir. Ancak höyüğün konumu ve bulunan taş aletler, bölgede çatışmalı bir sürecin yaşanmış olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bölgede üretim ve geçim çeşitliliğini ve etkileşimleri yansıtan bütün bu buluntular, Bafra Ovasındaki Elmacıktepenin Orta ve Geç Kalkolitik Çağda önemli bir yerleşim olduğunu göstermektedir. Karadeniz ve Kalkolitik Çağ araştırmaları için taşıdığı potansiyel dikkate alındığında sistematik kazı hedefleri arasına Elmacıktepe Höyüğünün dahil edilmesi gerektiği stratejik bir öneme sahiptir.

Makale detayları

Outline of Elmacıktepe Mound (Bafra Plain, Samsun) in the Chalcolithic Age

Yazarlar:

Cahide Gizem Özbilgin | Atila Türker | Semih Yaşar Çizikci

Yayıncı:

Ondokuz Mayıs University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Dergi:

PROPONTICA Vol.3 Issue 6, pp.273-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359013

pISSN:

2980-132X

Anatolia

Black Sea

Bafra Plain

Chalcolithic Age

Elmacıktepe

Surface Survey.Anadolu

Karadeniz

Bafra Ovası

Kalkolitik Çağ

Elmacıktepe

Yüzey Araştırması

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Cahide Gizem Özbilgin | Atila Türker | Semih Yaşar Çizikci

Yayıncı: Ondokuz Mayıs University

Ana Başlıklar: Arkeoloji Bilimi

Dergi: PROPONTICA Vol.3 Issue 6, pp.273-287

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001359013

pISSN: 2980-132X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Cahide Gizem Özbilgin | Atila Türker | Semih Yaşar Çizikci

Yayıncı:

Ondokuz Mayıs University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Dergi:

PROPONTICA Vol.3 Issue 6, pp.273-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001359013

pISSN:

2980-132X