The Gentral and the River basin settlements in the Bronze Age

By $evket Dönmez i. Keywords: Northern Anatolia, , Black Sea Region, survey, settlement pattern, Bronze Age

The geographical area under discussion in this zone. Settlements of the earlv 2nd paper covers the region from Samsun in the west mill. B.C. have been identified there at (Map1) to Bayburl in the east (Map2). I have Kelebeg Tepe, Azay Tepe, Tepe Tarla. chosen this area that we may call the East Black Tepe,' Elmacrk Tepe, Tepecik, Karageyh Sea Region hinterland in order to collect the ex- Omer Usta Tepesi, Evren Uga[r, Pagagel isting archaeological evidence and thus make an si, Katrrdamr-Tepecik, Aqa$r Tepe, Krzkayasr assessment. (Gelinkayasr), Kolay-Tepecik, Hacrbaba Tepesr The Kelkit River (ancient Lykos) is the most im- and Kirmancik-Tepecik. However, in some settle- podant river in this area. Because of its geogra- ments on the Plain, only Early Bronze Age phical advantages this river basin must have housings were revealed. These are Bakrrdere been used as a trade route between the Central Tepesi and Kocakaya. But at Yigitler Tepesi in Black Sea Region, Caucasia and Western lran. the eastern parl of the Bafra Plain was no Early Kelkit River rises from Gümüghane Province, Bronze Age settlement following the Chalcolithic passes through the south of Province as Period, the next settlement occuring during the well as the Regadiye, and districts Middle Bronze Age. Bengü village in the vicinity of of Province until it finally joins the Yegilrr- Kolay Town, the majority of which now lies under mak River near Tagova Dlstrict in the the Altrnkaya Dam, was locatecj on the last ter- Province. The west side of the Kelkit Basin that races overlooking the Krzrllrmak (ancient Halys). begins in has been thoroughly investi- The field surveys carried out there by J. A. Den- gated and few settlements have been located gate before the beginning of U. B. Alkrm's re- there (Maps 1; 2). Although the east side which search revealed a few Bronze axes and a pair of consists of the Sugehri, $ebinkarahisar, $iran Bronze castanets dating back to the Late Bronze and Kelkit districts has not undergone any ser- Age by him2. Apart from these, there are no fino- ious resarch yet, we still get information regarding ings or settlements known from the second half this area from the neighbouring province. of 2nd mill. B.C. in Bafra Province. Between Bafra and Alacam, most of the settle- ments such as Sivritepe, Gökgebogaz Tepesi (Ali Osman Tepesi), Dede Tepe and girlek Tepe (Cir- lek Tepe/Kuggular Höyü!ü/Hogkadem Tepesi) re- Samsun Provincel, which has the highest popu- vealed several pieces of pots and pans dating Iation density, is in the Alacam-Bafra-19 Mayrs from the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Alkrm car- ried out researches on site and C. Burney's field 1 survey in I955 introduced Gökgebo$az Tepesi For researches in Samsun Province, comp. Alktm 1g72a, 422-426; Alkrm 1972b, 56; Alkrm 1973a, 435-438; Alkrm and $irlek Tepesi to the archeology world3. Bur- 1973b, 62-65; Alkrm 1973c, 5-16; Alkrm 1974a, 23-28i ney pointed out that several potsherds from the .1974c, Alkrm 1974b, 553-556; Alkrm 50-53; Alkrm 1975, Early and Middle Bronze Age were found at Gök- 5-12; Alkrm 1976a,717-719; Alkrm 1976b, 42-44i Atkm nohnöaz Tonoci 1978a, 542-547; Alkrm 1978b, 23-27', Alkm 1982, 3-9; Alkrm etal. 1988; Alkrm etal. 2003; Bilgi 1990a, 211-220i The settlements revealed in the city center, Bilgi 1990b, 25-28; Bilgi 2000, 109-127; Bilgi 2001a, Bilgi namely Dündadepe (Fig.1), Ba! Tepesi, De- 2001b, 1-35; Bilgi etal. 2002, 279-296; Bilgi etal. 2003, deüstü 41-50; Bilgi elal. 2004, 87-96; Burney 1956, 179*203; Din- Tepesi, Göktepe, Akalan, Diklim Tepe gol/Yakar 1974,563-582; Dönmez 1999, 513-536; Dönmez and Kaleyeri Tepesi, were shown to have been 2000a,229-244; Dönmez 2000b, 330 334; Dönmez 2001, occupied during the Early and Mlddle Bronze 302-307; Dönmez 2002a, 873-903; Dönmez 2002b, 243- Age. Only Büyük Oyumca Tepesi revealed 293; Gökoglu 1952; Inan 1947, 119-132: Krztltan 1992, no 213*241i Kökten 1941, 121-124i Kökten 1944, 659-689; settlement following the Early Bronze Age. Kökten/Özgüg 1940a, 413-419; KökteniÖzgüg 1940b, 25- 28; Kökten/Ozgüq 1940c, 13-16; Kökten etal. 1945, 361- 400; Özgü9.'1941, 637: Özgü9 1948, 393-419; Özsait 1988, 239-256; Ozsait 1990b, 124-130: Ozsait 1999b, 89-107; 2 Ozsait 2O0Ob, 335-341; Özsait 2001. 307-312; Özsait 2003, Dengate 1971, 199; Dengate 1978,25g. 127-1401 Ozsait 2004, 273-284; Yakar/Dincol 1974, 85-99 " Burney 1956, 182. 102 $evket Dönmez

,,'-..--.'.-.r-S' / ,S' { E{ I #l l,-o] r'Ll. f rf't \r ;" '1-'ro" *t,l __Tokat.,, -=-]$;1{, | 'l'i .-._.___ ' t\lt r.{*;'),f_;=,t'-/ J {- ,r .'----

Map 1 r-----.*-'d-T- t_ *"tir. ,r./ Samsun. Western pafl -:,r__._,,.\ of survey area.

MaP 2 Bayburt. Eastern part ur rutvuy drvd.

In and near the Yegilrrmak (ancient lris) Valley both in the Early and Middle Bronze Age, in the east of Samsun Province no dense setile- whereas Tepecik, Kilise Tepesi and Tünbü Tepe ment has been witnessed up to the present day. are understood to have been settled durino the However, in Tekkeköy (Fig. 2) and in the south of Early Bronze Age. the Qarqamba District, Tepecik and Kilise Tepesi, Vezirköprü District, in the south-west of Sam- Ayvacrk-Tünbü Tepesi and Asarcrk-Koyuncuo$lu sun Province, was discovered to have been den- Höyü$ü settlements were discovered. Except for sely settled not only in the 3rd but also in the 2nd Tekkeköy all othör settlements were located on mill. B.C. The earliest Bronze Age seülements hills. Tekkeköy is known to have been occupied found in this area are Keltepe, Dolan Tepe, and the Kelkit River basin settlements in the Bronze Aqe

Fig. 1 Samsun-Dündartepe from South.

Fig.2 Tekkeköy from South

Kurudere, Ya$rnözü-Qakmak, Qörlen Tepe, Kügük- proven to have been Middle Bronze Age settle- kale, Oymaagaq Höyük (Höyük Tepe), Yeltepesi ments. Oymaagaq Höyügü takes an impodant and Sivri Tepe. Among these, only Oymaaöaq place among Vezirköprü settlements. Dengate Höyük, Keltepe, Küqükkale and Sivri Tepe were dated a spear-head and blade which he found 104 $evket Dönmez

Fig.3 Köyiqi Tepesil/urtyeri Tepesi from North-West.

there to the second half of the 3'd mill. B.C. On Only a few of the mounds located in Ladik Drs- top of Oymaagag Höyügü, located 7 km nortn- trict were deserted after the Early Bronze Age east of Vezirköprü city centre and about 500 m ro and not resettled. These are Agcrtepe, Aqa(r Be- the west of Oymaa$aq Village, some remains re- lenaca Tepesi, inkaya, Kurban Tepe, öolma sembling city walls and an underground construc- Tepe, Kireglik, Qakrr Höyük, Agrkh Egme Höyür<, tion resembling a postern have been uncovereo Inboynu Höyük, Dökme Tepe, Kahpe Tepe, Des- during illegal excavations. The above mentioned timen Tepe, lbi, Alabag Tepe, Dogankag and construction was built by use of the shouldereo Kemalyeri. Other mounds in this area were conti- vault techniquea. These finds as well as the pot- nually inhabited from the Early to the Middle sherds indicate that Oymaagag Höyügü was a Bronze Age. These are Dedealtr Tepesi, Tombul big and imporlant settlement surrounded by city- Tepe, Kale Tepe, Kümbet Tepe, Kilise Tepe, walls in the 2nd mill. 8.C., that is the Middle ano Devgerkaya Tepesi, Sarrgazel, Köyiqi Tepesil/ur- Late Bronze Age. tyeri Tepesi (Fig. 3), Salur-Yüktepe, Budakdere- The seven mounds in the District were Köyyeri Höyük and Mrhlr Tepe. Besides, it is as- inhabited from the Early Bronze Age onwards sumed that Salur Höyük (Mound), which was sur- and in the Middle Bronze Age. These setilements rounded by city walls in the 2nd mill. 8.C., was in- are Tepecik, Qegtepe, Patlangrg Tepe, Dökme habited during the Late Bronze Age, that is the Tepe l, Hakim Tepe l, Tagkaracaören Tepe and Hittite lmoerial Periods. Cin Tepe l. Other mounds are found to have ln the Kavak District however, three settle- been deserted after the Early Bronze Age. They ments, namely Güney Tepesi, Tepesidelik Tepe were either given up or resettled during the Middle and Kaletepe, were abandoned at the end of the Bronze Age. Such settlements on plains are Early Bronze Age and not resettled. The remain- found at Manevra Tepe, Cin Tepe ll, Hakim Tepe ing settlements at Kaledoru$u, Dingilkalecik Tepe, ll (BekdiQin Tepe), Cevizbagr Tepesi, Cam Tepe, Danabasan Tepe, Hacrbaba Tepe and Aytepe Bacas Tepe, Kayah Tepe, Garco Tepe, ören are considered to have been inhabited during Tepe, $eyh SafiTepesi, Kömürlük Höyügü, Muhtis both the Early and Mlddle Bronze Age. These Tepe and Boyalr. settlements which lie either on or near the Sam-

4 5 Ark,m 1973a.437 Yakar/Dinqol 1974, 92 The Central Black Sea Region and the Kelkit River basin settlements in the Bronze Age 105

."-; T. {rl.'l lliirrrl:'" w:.iE

Fig.4 Paralr Tepe ll from West. sun-Kavak highway, most probably held control form the Yegilrrmak proper; this covers the cen- over this impodant route. tral district of as well as Gü- müghacrköy, Hamamözü, and Göy- nücek. The most imoortant settlements in these Amasya Province distrlcts are considered to have existed only dur- ing the Early Bronze Age. They are Hacrprnarr The number of 3'd and 2nd mill. B.C. settlements (Karacaören ll), Tepe l-ll, Qrkrrkqr Tepe, in Amasya Provinceo is quite limited. Three of Niyazbaba Tepe, Asarcrk-Qaltepe, Kartalkaya, these, namely Kümbet Tepe (Alevi Tepe), Kilise Akkaya, Fatma Prnarr, Gaffar Dede l-ll, Krzlar- Tepe and Kurnaz Tepe are located in kayasr, Sultanqayr, Qömezler, Sallar Höyük and and have been reported by l. K. Kökten7. The Agrtepe Fortress found in Gümüghacrköy District; other is located in the South of Amasyas. These Tekke Tepesi, Yeniköy, Qittirin Bayrr, Paralt Tepe settlements have in common that they all were ll (Fig. 4), Karatag Tepe ll, Tereba!r and Ekinalanr powerful in the Early Bronze Age. However, as in the Hamamözü District; Hacrbayramrn Tepe, a result of the field surveys carried out first by Bel Höyük, Mercan Suyu, Yukarrbük Yayla Höyük, M. Özsait and later by myself, it has become Hrdrrlrk-Akkaya, Kara Mustafa Paga Höyük, Mal- evident that Amasya was densely inhabited dur- tepesi, Göletüstü-Kelitbagr, Qobanören, Bakacak- ing the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age, that lar Mevkii, Kayadüzü Yayla Höyük, Civek Tepe, is till 1200 B.C. which marks the beginning of Ugtag Höyük, Kötüköy Yayla Höyük, Kurt Sivrisi, the lron Age in the 2no mill. B.C. In the west of Odaova Höyük, Tavuk Tepesi, Qipil ve Qayrrbagr the area, between the Tagova District of Ama- in the Merzifon District; Ogulbagr, Kanatprnar sya and the Erbaa District of Tokat, Kelkit River (Devret), Türkmenlik, Bekgi Tepesi, Göllübaglar, joins the Yegihrmak flowing from the west to Egrektepe, Sarrkaya, Ahlatlrk Mevki ve Srrl Mevki in Suluova District; Dökme Tepe in the Central District; Delirmeni, Yalntz Tepe, Kayan- o Qaylak For researches in Amasya Province, see Biigi 200ib, 1-35: gayrr, and Ayvalrprnar ll in the Göynücek District; Dönmez 1999a,513-536; Dönmez 2000a, 229-244; Dönmez 2000b, 330-334: Dönmez 2001, 302-307; Dönmez 2002a, llgrncak l, Brdak, Korama Ptnarr, Qambükü, Qöm- 873 903; Dönmez 2002b, 243-253, Kökten etal. '1945, leklik, Akyazr Tepesi, Umutlu Höyük and Belevi- 361-400; Özsait 1989, 287-3OOi Özsait 1990a, 367-380; lkiztepe I in the Tagova District where the Kelkit Özsait 1990b, 124-130i Özsail 1991., 45-54; Ozsait 1998, 143-162: Ozsait 2000b, 335-341; Ozsait 2001, 307-312i joins the Yegilrrmak. The remaining settlements Özsait 2003, 127*140; Özsait 2004, 273-284i ÖzsaiVD_ündar seem to have been inhabited both in the Early 1997, 17 1 -192; OzsaiVKogak 1 996, 273-292; OzsaiVOzsail Bronze Age and the 2nd mill, B.C. These are Kar- 1 998, 457-468; Ozsaivozsait 2002, 527 -552. 7 Kökten et al. 194s, 396. acaören l, Kadimprnarr, Selguk, Gevron, Kalecik 8 Kogay/Akok 1950, 48'1 485. Tepe, lsmail Prnarr, Kabalak Deresi, At AQtlt, 106 $evket Dönmez

Susuz Tarla, Kayabagr l-ll and Bekgitepesi in the in mind the mound located 400 m to the north of Gümüghacrköy paralrtepe District; Kaletepe, I the Early Bronze Age cemetery. As reported, sev- and Karatag Tepe I in Hamamözü District; Ahcrk eral potsherds dating from the Hittite imperial per- Höyük, Onhoroz Tepe, Büyük Küllük Tepe, Kügük iod were found on the moundia. When researcn prnarr, Küllük Tepe, Onhoroz Prnarr, Aliala Kara- in Tokat Provincel5 and excavations in Horoztepe tepe-Büyüktepe, Alacaprnar Tepe (Hayrettin l), to date have been evaluated, it will be obvious Delicik Tepe (Hayrettin tl), Samadolu Höyük, Mer- that settlements of the Early, Middle and Lare cimekii Tepe, Kocatepe, Aksungur Höyük, Tilki Bronze Age are to be found mainly on the Erbaa Tepesi, Kavakptnarr, Hamam Tepesi, Kügük Tepe, Plain in the Kelkit Basin. However, along the nar- Altrn Tepe and Körceviz in the Merzifon District; row valley running from Niksar to Reqadiye, no sett- YoQurtgubaba and Derea!rl Tepesi in the Suluova lements are attested for the mentioned periods District; Oluz Höyük, Do$an Tepe, Sarrmege Te- G. E. S. Durbin published a collection of por- pesi and Gökhöyük in the Central District; Gedik- sherds belonging solely to the lron Age, which saray Höyügü, Kocamantepe, Toklutepe, Cinli- had been uncovered by Burney during his areal tepe and Ayvahprnar I in the Göynücek District; research in Erbaa and its neighborhood. He also Sonusa-Kabayar Höyük, Mülkbükü, Ekiztepe, Kug points out that Burney identified 1'l settlements of Tepesi, Ansar Kalesi, Yeniprnar, Kütüklük ano the 2nd mill. B.C. Nine of these had been inhab- Kale-Hrzarönü Tepe in Tagova District. Among ited in the Early Bronze Age, too16. Since these lhese settlements of the Amasya Province, Ala- have not been published by Burney we do not caprnar Tepesi (Hayrettin l) in Merzifone, Oluz know the names and exact locations. Most of Höyük in the Central Districtlo and Gediksaray these settlements near the Kelkit Valley in the HöyüQü in Göynücek11 are of particular interest, were not inhabited after the Early not only because of their size but also because Bronze Age. These are Kabatepe, Komgu Tepesi, of their layers running from the Early Bronze Age Kömü91ük, Qernik (Bölücek), Teveri (Kogak), Tepe- to Roman times. These settlements, which meas- cik, Untepe, Bolazkesen in the Erbaa Districr; ured over 300m in length, about 150-200m in Niksar Höyük in the Niksar District '10-15 and Qaggar, width, and m in height, were most probabry Tilkitepe, Dolmatepe, Köyiqi Höyügü and Kömü- established as defense by the Hittites against the garmudu in the Regadiye District. lt has been ob- Gashkeansl2. served that settlements of both the Earlv Bronze Age and the 2nd mill. B.C. were only found in the r-L-^ h:^r.-:-r Eroaa Utsinct, nallely Hüseyingazi-Kaletepe, Qo- Tokat Province bantepe and Köyönü.

The most impodant settlement of the Kelkit Valley in the Tokat Province is Horoz Tepe13. lt is com- Province posed of a plain settlement of the Earlv Bronze Age and an extramural graveyard nearby, belong- Though Kelkit River does not pass through Ordu ing to the same period. The excavation in this Province, due to their geographical nearness ro area was carried out by T. özgüq in 1956. This the Kelkit, the settlements in the south of the plain settlement, where research has yet been Mesudiye District can be allotted to the Kelkit done only in two small soundings (H and l), is River Basin. Our knowledge about this district covered by modern graves. No archaeological is based on the researches of Özsaitl7. lt has remains were encountered in the excavations on been observed that none of the Early Bronze the site. lt was discovered that Horoztepe was Age settlements that were encountered in Me- an impoftant centre in 2nd mill. 8.C., too, bearing sudiye by Özsait were resettled in the 2nd mill. B.C. However, without giving the names and lo- cations, Özsait points out the setilements in " Dönmez 2000a, 235; Dönmez 2000b, 301; Dönmez 200.r, which finds from the Hittite period have been un- 303; Dönmez 2002a,882-883 Fig.17; Dönmez 2OOZ\,263 Fig. 17. 10 Dönmez 2OOOa,2g4i Dönmez 2000b, 331 Fig.4; Dönmez 14 özaiio l qAA ?q 2001,303 Fig.4; Dönmez 2002a,885 rc Fig.24; Dönmez For researches in Tokat Province, see Burney 1956, 2002b, 270-271 Fig. 24. .. 179-203', Dönmez 2000b, 330-334; Dönmez 2001, Dönmez " 2OOOa,234; Dönmez 2000b, 331 Fig.6; Dönmez 3.O2-307t Durbin 1971,91,124; Ozsait j994b, 113-.117; 2001,303 Fig.6; Dönmez 2002a,886 Fig.26; Dönmez Özsait 1999a, 89-107; Özsait 2000a, 73-88; özsait 2000o, 2002b, 272 Fig.26. . ^ 335-341; Ozsait 2001; 307-312; özsaiVözsait 2001, '' Dönmez 2002a,888; Dönmez 20O2b,276. c+ | -f,)b. 16 'o For researches in Horoz Tepe, see özgüg 1957, 26-27; öz- Durbin 1971, 109 110. gü9 1966, 1-25; Ozgüq/Akok l9s7, 201-219', özgüg/Akok 17 '1958; Özsait 1gg2, 357-376; Özsait 1993, 311-330: özsait Tezcan 1960, 13-46. 1994a,285-300. The Central Black Sea Region and the Kelkit River basin settlements in the Bronze Age 107

coveredl8. More than 2/3 of the Early Bronze Gümüghane Province Age settlements were deserted by the end of 3'd mill. B.C. and not resettled till the lron Age. We The Kelkit River, which has its source in the Gü- conclude that settlements especially in the south müghane Province, flows near the Kelkit and and south-west of Mesudiye were densely popu- $iran districts. However, as there have been no lated after the Late Chalcolithic Age but then researches here wodhy of note, we are not in- abandoned by the end of the Early Bronze formed about settlements in this area. Age1e. These settlements are Harmancrk, Krrrk- lar, Körüktepesi, Meydandüzü, Qamarasr l, Qa- marasl ll, Güleyanr Tepesi, Qaglayankaya, Bek- Bayburt Province tag Tepesi, Esmahan Pnan, Ziyaret Tepesi, Naltepesi, Tepedibi, Karga Tepesi, Karaprnar l, Although not covered by the main subject of Karaprnar ll, Tepetarla, Maltepesi, Sö!ütözü, Zir- this paper, Bayburt Province should be men- aat Tepesi, YazIarla, Hohurdan Te- Qukurqayrr, tioned. lt is located in the east of the Kelkit pesi, Kuzuluk Bolazr, Sarrca, Pilav Tepesi, Qiftlik Valley and comprises the western part of the Yayla Höyük, Harmanyeri Tepesi, Qamagluo$lu Qoruh Valley. Despite of research in the Gire- Tepesi, Sayaca Tepesi, llrgar l, llrgar ll, llrgar lll, sun and Gümüghane province, Bayburl pro- Atyolu, Drgrlkaya, Frrrqlrk, Abdili Yayla Höyük, Az- vince2l where researches were first done by (Uzunkavak), , mikale, Yardere-Bahqeler Qöplük Kökten and later by A. Sagona, is quite conveni- Bostanr, UEyol, Sahanlr, Agagr Güngörmez l, ent for information on the cultures of Gümüghane Agagr Yukarr Güngörmez ll, Yukarr Güngörmez l, and Giresun because of its geographical close- Güngörmez ll, Yukarr Güngörmez lll, Kryan, Kar- ness. Based on the field surveys of Kökten and ababa, Küllüce, Evliya Tepesi and Buzluk. Sagona it has been observed that after the Early Bronze Age up to the lron Age there was an in- constancy in the inhabitancy of these Jtvas61.--- rlUvlltueh----:-^- settlements and the district was not really densely inhabited in the Middle and Late Bronze Age22. Especially The Kelkit flows near the districts of Koyulhisar due to the results of Sagona's researches, it is and Sugehri in the north of Province. We acknowledged that Bayburt Province belonged to learn that there was a higher settlement density a historical landscape where a culture known as especially in the province of Koyulhisar2o from Early Transcaucasian had spread. lt has been the researches of Ozsait. The only settlements of determined that the potsherd finds were similar to the Early Bronze Age are Yeniaslan l, Yeniaslan ll, the ones found in the settlements of both Trans- Yeniaslan lll, Egriqimen Yayla Höyük, Kuruseki, caucasia and Northwestern lran as well as those Kalacuk l, Kalacuk ll and Kalacuk lll. of the Eastern Anatolia Early Bronze Age23. Dur- ing an excavation directed by Sagona in the Early Bronze Age layers of Büyüktepe Höyük in Bayburt Province, some traces of tents were found, which seems to support the theory of the The Kelkit also passes near the $ebinkarahisar "nomadic people" suggested for the people com- and Qamoluk districts in the south of the Giresun posing the Early Transcaucasian Province. However, as no researches in these culture2a. districts have been carried out to date, we have no idea about the settlements there. Conclusion

Erzincan Province Following our present knowledge about the sub- ject matter of this paper, we come to the conclLJ- The Kelkit here joins the streams Koymat and sion that the first settlements in the area occured Seme in the north of the District of the in the Laie Chalcolithic Age. As a result of the Province. Only two settlements have field surveys in Samsun Province, which constitu- been discovered in this area, namely Cengerli and Tombultepe which are thought to have been 21 inhabited only in the Early Bronze Age. For researches in Bayburt Province, see Sagona/Sagona 2004. 22 Sagona 1 993, 262; Sagona-/Sagona 2004, 2gg-241. 1B Özsait 1993, 316. 'o Sagona 1990,428; Sagona eta|.1992,30; Sagona elal. 1e '1 Özsait 1993, 312-315. 993, 71 ; Sagona/Sagona 2004, 238-239. 20 Özsait 1995, 459-482. 24 Burney 1977,12g. 108 $evket Dönmez

Fig.5 Ordu, cave findings (after Przeworski 1 93s). The Central Black Sea Region and the Kelklt River basin settlements in the Bronze Aqe 109 tes the west of region, we can assume that espe- cially the Krzrltrmak Valley and its neighborhood were densely inhabited both in Early and Middle Bronze Age, with some decrease in number. lt has been observed that towards the Yegiltrmak Valley in the east of Samsun Province, settle- ments appeared to have been quite few, and the existing ones were inhabited only in the Early Bronze Age. The most important change seen in this orovince in the 2nd millennium B.C. is the re- markable decrease in the number of settlements, compared to their amount in the Early Bronze Age. We conclude that some of the densely po- pulated settlements of the Early Bronze Age were not further occupied in the Mlddle Bronze Age. From the middle of Middle Bronze Age onwards, we notice that the number of settlements declined to a great extent and thus, there was a loss in population. This situation, which is related to the Gashka people, most probably shows the borders of the regional hegemony of these people. In fact, A. DinEol and J. Yakar, have pointed out the area covered by the Sinop-Samsun-Ordu provinces, i.e. the nofih of Amasya-Merzifon line, as the Fig.6 Gashka Land2s. J. Yakar has widened this area , cave iinding. even more and expanded its frontier as far as the line Kargr - Merzifon * Tagova or Tagköprü - - Dura$an - Vezirköprü, and has em- phasized that these areas might have been used by the Hittite kings as buffer zones against the raids of Gashka people26. It has been observed that dense populations inhabited the Amasya and Tokat Provinces dur- ing the Early Bronze Age, as was the case in the Samsun Province. Though we do not have suffi- cient information on the following period of the 2nd mill. 8.C., we can conclude that these sites, especially those in the Amasya Province, were - due to their proximity to the Hittites - more den- sely inhabited during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. As we have mentioned above, Ozsait encoun- tered several settlements of the Early Bronze Age in the Mesudiye District of the Ordu Pro- vince, besides discovering some centres with findings from the Hittite Period. However, the lo- cations and names of these centres have not been published. For this reason we would like to point out that we do not have enough evidence to assume that the Mesudiye or even the Sivas- Koyulhisar neighborhood was inhabited in the 2nd mill. B.C., nor that the Hittites had occupied the south of the and the Nodheast of .

25 Dingollfakar 1974, 574 map 1 Fig.7 26 Yakar 2000, 296. Artvin, cave finding. It is to be said that rare finds or settlemenrs Alkrm 1976a dating to the Middle oi Late Bronze Ages are U. B. Alkrm, 1975 Samsun Bölgesi Aragtrrmalarr ve known in Bayburl province, except for Büyüktepe lkinci Dönem lkiztepe Kazrsr. Belleten 40; 1976, fasc. Höyük further to the east27. The raretv oi setile_ 160, 717 -719. ments of the 2nd mill. B.C. in the Bayburt region, Alkrm 1976b that is, however, not yet fully researched, selms U. B. Alkrm, ikiztepe and Samsun Survev. Anatotian Studies to be comparable to similar situations 26, 1976. 42. 44. in the Alkrm 1978a northei'n pai.t of the Sivas province, iust across U. B. Alkrm, 1977 Dönemi ikiztepe the Kelkit river, in the Koyulhisar. Kazrsr ve Samsun and Sugehri Bölgesi Aragtrrmalarr. Belleten 42, 1978, fasc. .167, districts, in the southern part of the Giresun pro- 542-547. vince in the districts $ebinkarahisar ve Qamoluk, Alkrm 1978b and in the $iran and Kelkit districts of Gümügn- U. B. Alkrm, ikiztepe and Samsun Region, 1977. Ana_ ane province. There is a slight possibility that the tolian Studies 28, 1978,23-27. Alkrm 1982 Fig. I reason for this - even though this question is An axe from late not solved yet is to be sought with peoples U. B. Alkrm, lkiztepe Kazrsr ve Samsun Bölqesi Ara_ 2nd mill F. fl nrcrra q!ci - the vrqv! gtrrmalarr (1977). Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi -Pulur. forming the Trialeti Culture. Having similarity ZS. tSBZ, with fasc. 2, 3-9. the samples found in Trialeti graves of the 2no Alkrm etal. 1988 mill. 8.C., the bronze weapons from the cave U. B. Atkrm/H. Atkrm/ö. Bitgi, ikiztepe t. Birinci ve finds of Ordu (Fig. 5) and Artvin (Figs. 6; 7) as ikinci Dönem Kazlarr/The First and Second Seasons. well as the metal remains in the graves of the Excavations (1574-1975). Türk Tarih Kurumu yayrn_ late 2nd mill. B.C. in Erzurum-putui 1fig. g) can larr 5, vol. 39 ( 19BB). be evaluated as an evidence for this ässumo- Alklm et al. 2003 tion. U, B. Atkrm, ikiztepe il. ügüncü, Dördüncü, Beginci, Aitrncr,Yedinci Dönem Kazrlarr (1976_1980). Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayrnlan 5, vol. 39a (Ankara 20b3t. Bibliography Bilgi 1 990 a Ö. Sitgi, ikiztepe Kazrlarrnrn 19BB Dönemi Sonuclarr ve Qevre Aragtrrmalarr. Kazr Sonuglarr Toplantrst tt, Al,..Jm 1972a 1 990, fasc. 1, 211 -220. U. B. Alkrm, islahiye ve Samsun Bölgesinde 1971 Bilgi 1990b Belleten 36, Qalrgmalan. 1972, fasc. 45, 422_426. Ö. eitgi, ikiztepe Kazrlarrnrn 19BB Dönemi Sonuclarr Alkrm l972 b ve Qevre Aragtrrmalarr. Höyük 1, 1990, 25_28. U. B. Alkrm, Recent Archaeological in Turkev_Samsun Bilgi 2000 Province. Anatolian Studies 22, 1972. 56. Ö. Aitgi, Metal Workers of the Black Sea Region Alktm of -1973a in the Early Bronze Age: A New persöective B. U. Alkrm, lslahiye ve Samsun Bölgesinde 1972 on the Question of the Indo-Europeans Dönemi öriqinar Qalrgmalarr. Belleten 37, 1973, tasc. 147, Homeland. 1si International Congress on the 435-438. Arciae_ ology of the Ancient Near East (Roma 2000), 109_ Alkrm 1973b 127. U B. Alkrm, Tilmen Höyük and Samsun Region. Ana_ Bilgi 2001 a tolian Studies 29, 1973,62_65. Ö. eitgi, Protohistorik Karadeniz Böloesi Alkrm 1973c Qag,da Madencileri; Hind-Avrupalrlarrn Anavatanl Sorun-una U. B. Alkrm, Tilmen Höyük ve Samsun Bölgesi QaLq_ Yeni Bir Yaklagrm/protohistoric Age Metallurgists of malarr (1971). Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi 20, t-923,-fasc. the Central Black Sea Region ( 2001). Bilgi 2001 b Alktm 1974a Bilgi, protohistorik O. Orta Karadeniz Bölgesi Qag U. B. Alkrm, Tilmen Höyük Kazrsr ve Samsun Bölgesi Maden Sanatrnrn Kökeni ve Geligimi. Belleten 45, Aragttrmalan (1972). Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi 21 , 1974, 2001, fasc. 242,1-35. Iasc.2,23-28. Bilgi et al. 2002 Alktm l974b Ö. Bilgi/S. Atasoy/$. Dönmez/L. Summerer, Samsun U. B. Alkrm, Samsun Bölgesinde 1973 eall$malan. (Amisos) Bölgesi'nin Küttüret Getigimi projesi ite itgili Belleten 38,1974, fasc. 151, 553_556. Yüzey Aragtrrmasr. Aragtlrma Sonuglan Toplantrsr 19, Alkrm 1974c 2002, fasc. 1, 279-296. U. B. AIkrm, Samsun Region, 1973. Anatolian Stuclies Bilgi et al. 2003 24, 1974.50_53. Ö. eitgilS. Atasoy/F. Gökge/g. Dönmez, 2001 Yrlr Alkrm 1975 Samsun lli Yüzey Aragtrrmasr. Aragtrrma Sonuglarr U. B. Alkrm, Samsun Bölgesi eahgmalarr (1973). Türk Toplantrsr 20, 2003, fasc. 2, 41-50. Arkeoloji Dergisi 22, 1975, fasc. l,S_12. Bilgi et al. 2004 Ö. Bilgi/S Atasoyig. Dönmez/E. Utugergerti, 2002 yrtr Samsun lli Yüzey Aragtrrmasr. Ara6trrma Sonuclarr Toplantrsr 21, 2004, fasc. 1, 87-96. '' Sagona 1990, 425; SagonaL/Sagona 2OO4, Z3g_24j. The Central Black Sea Region and the Kelkit River basin settlements in the Bronze

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Abstract

The geographical area covered in this paper reaches from Samsun in the west to Bayburt in the east. The river Kelkit (ancient Lykos), the most important river of the area, must have been used as a trade road be- tween the Central Black Sea Begion and Caucasia and Western lran. First settlement activity in the area dates to the Late Chalcolithic. The Krzrlrrmak Valley and its neighborhood were densely inhabited both in Early Bronze and Middle Bronze Age. The most important change during the 2nd mill. B.C. is a sharp decrease in settlement numbers, compared to the amount in Early Bronze Age. Some of the densely populated settle- ments of the Early Bronze Age were not occupied again in the Middle Bronze Age. Besides, from the middle of the Middle Bronze Age onwards, we notice a further de- cline in settlement numbers, so that there must have been a loss of population. This may possibly have been caused by the nomad and semi-nomad Gashka people mentioned in the Hittite written records. The Amasya and Tokat provinces were apparently $evket Dönmez densely settled during Early Bronze Age. The Amasya lstanbul University Province was geographically close to the Hittites and Faculty of Letters had also been more intensly occupied during ihe Middle Depadment of Protohistory and Late Bronze Ages, when compared to the neigh- and Near Eastern Archeology boring areas, where various survey activities have not Ordu Caddesi yet revealed any dense settlement distribution for this 34459 lstanbul-Laleli Turkey period in the Bayburl province.