NEW DATA ON DATING OF THE EARLIEST CULTURAL LAYER AT ÇİĞDEMTEPE MOUND

Authors : Ali Yalçın Tavukçu, Erman Akyüz

Pages : 533-560

Doi:10.56597/kausbed.1728184

View : 180 | Download : 242

Publication Date : 2025-12-12

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study covers the dating of the ceramic finds from the earliest cultural layer at Çiğdemtepe Mound, one of the significant Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes settlements in the Bayburt region, located in Northeastern Anatolia. The prime craftsmanship of Kura-Araxes culture, which emerged towards the end of the 4th millennium BC and prevailed in a wide area extending from Trans Caucasia to East and Northeast Anatolia, and from there to the Levant, is the Red-Black Burnished Ware. The form and color contrast in handmade pottery exhibit some variability within the expanse of this culture. Also, its distinctive architecture is notable, particularly house designs with circular plans. Today’s Bayburt region was under the influence of this culture, especially in the Early Bronze Ages. In the archaeological surveys and excavations carried out in the region, significant data belonging to the Kura-Araxes Culture have been obtained. Çiğdemtepe Mound also contains many elements of the material culture of Kura-Araxes. The light-colored Black-Topped Ware group may be the most significant archaeological find with its black burnished inner surface and brown-terracotta outer surface, which was revealed in the same layer as the Kura-Araxes ceramics. In this context, the aim of this paper is to date the ceramics based on the results of radiocarbon analysis of the charred wood samples taken from here which were found in the earliest cultural layer of the Çiğdemtepe Mound during the 2020 excavations.
Keywords : Erken Tunç Çağ, Kura-Aras Kültürü, Black Topped, Kırmızı-Siyah Cilalı Mal

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