On the Post-Ubaid stratigraphy and complex architecture of the Birecik Dam Area (Turkish Euphrates): Surtepe and Tilbes-Körche Late Chalcolithic 1 levels

Abstract

During the Later Prehistory of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers and adjacent regions, a great cultural spread took place during the Late/Terminal Ubaid phases of Southern Mesopotamia. In the Northern Mesopotamian regions, it happened during the immediate pre-Late Chalcolithic phases. Excavations in Southeastern Turkey prove a continuity of Ubaid cultural traits at least during the earlier phases of the local Late Chalcolithic (LC1). Two archaeological sites, Surtepe and Tilbes-Körche, close to the Birecik Dam area (Turkish Euphrates) are presented and evaluated here. Surtepe höyük, a 8 ha Late Ubaid settlement that provided Coba bowls, has levels with painted pottery from the late Late Chalcolithic 1 or earlier LC 2 phases in an area of at least 4 hectares in south and southwestern slopes. The small site of Tilbes-Körche has probably a bigger inter-connected structure and no simple isolated buildings. Among the stone foundations we identify at least one tripartite premise with a surface over 90 m2 and two bipartite buildings. From the largest excavated unit (H3-H10) was recovered a stamp seal depicting a crosshatching motif and another token/stamp seal with 8 incised lines. Within LC1 or a transitional phase between it and LC2, the 18 % of the pottery found in the Tilbes-Körche buildings was painted and there is a huge abundance of unpainted bowls, which are about half the ceramic ensemble, many with traces of a wheel or slow-wheel, mass-produced bowls, various variants of LC1 flint scraped, and two that most resemble the so-called “flower pots”.

Tilbes, Surtepe and Tilvez Mounds: An Approach about the Early Bronze Ia-Ib phases, north of Birecik-Carchemish subregion (Southeastern Turkey)

“…Another sector that provided great results to prove the move from the end of LC to EB I in Tilbes was the E4b-E2-E7-E10-EF1 Square which consists of some long and well-defined mudbrick walls. There we managed to reach the virgin levels of the höyuk, on which a post-Ubaid occupation (Gil Fuensanta, Mederos and Muminov, 2020) of the initial LC1/2 type settled. After a long hiatus of occupation that evidenced a riverine flood of silt close to two meters of stratigraphic depth, we were able to see a terminal phase of LC5 that connected, in a solution of continuity, with the first moments of the EB I phase, that was revealed very extensive on the höyük (Gil Fuensanta, 2007: 145) (figure 4a-b).…”

Not far from the limits of the Northern Uruk Culture in the Middle/Upper Euphrates: the later Chalcolithic levels of Surtepe (Birecik, Southeastern Turkey)

“…In E4b squares, the first phase of occupation of Tilbes Höyük was located on the virgin level, in a cultural context of Late Ubaid, that is, Ubaid 4 of southern Mesopotamia, or Middle Chalcolithic in the Mesopotamia nomenclature of the North. There the standardized Coba bowls and painted pottery had a high percentage among the discovered remains (Gil Fuensanta, Mederos and Muminov, 2020). The subsequent cultural presence of Uruk, after a prolonged hiatus of disuse of the place, seems the product of a very advanced LC 5 phase (Gil Fuensanta, Charvat and Crivelli, 2008).…”

“…At Surtepe, thirteen operations were carried out on the south, central and north side of the mound, over an open area of almost 1.500 m², including a staggered survey to find the rocky river bed. Through extensive excavation, access was obtained to the earliest levels of the initial Late Chalcolithic 1 and early 2 that contained post-Ubaid type ceramics, including some imported ones (Gil Fuensanta, Mederos and Muminov, 2020) phase of Tilbes Höyük and initial EB1 in this same site and the referred Surtepe; even by then we could speak not only of a maintenance of the culture of the Middle Euphrates, but of an increase and one of its periods of maximum splendour. Surtepe's sprawling exhibition offers a social picture from a later period, LC 4-5, and the balance of local power appears to have changed, with a predominance of Uruk pottery at the site controlling the main river traffic.…”