ULUCAK HOYUK EXCAVATIONS: NEW RESULTS

Abstract

The prehistoric periods of the Aegean Region of West Anatolia is not well known compare to the later periods. The lack of information occurs in limited archaeological surveys and excavations on one hand.On the other hand alluvional deposits in the plains, and coastal line changes are yet another reason not to discover the prehistoric settlements in the region.It is evidently certain that some of the prehistoric settlements are beneath the alluvional deposits of the plains. 5 m. cultural deposit of the Ulucak Hoyuk is now under the soil of the Ulucak plain.

The excavations at Ulucak Hoyuk have provided reliable evidence for a long lasting Neolithic culture in the Aegean coast,and a cultural connection with the Lake District of Anatolia in the east and with Trace in the north west.Despite the occurrence of later periods such as Late Roman, Early Byzantine and Middle Bronze Ages these layers were heavily destroyed by modern agricultural activities. The Early Bronze Ages and the Chalcolithic periods were represented by pottery rather then well documented architectural remains. Despite the destruction occur at the later layers the Neolithic period is the most well preserved cultural era from the point of architecture and small finds.Level IV and V represent the Neolithic culture at Ulucak although future excavations will possibly add one or more levels to the Neolithic era.Level IV has ll sub-levels starting from IVa (ca.5600 B.C.) and going down to IVk (ca.6050 B.C.). LevelIV was fallowed by Level V excavated in recent years, dating to ca.6200 B.C.with the help of Cl4dates.It is possible that Level V has more sub-levels going down to the earlier periods of the Neolithic culture.Future excavations will definitely give us further information about the earlier characteristics of Neolithic period of Ulucak.

Red-slipped pottery and architectural features of Level IV and V can be compare to the Neolithic cultures of Lake District and Trace of Turkey although some distinctive differences may be noticed Further excavation at Ulucak will possibly make it clear if the Neolithic culture of Aegean Region made its development locally or came to the region from east by a migration.Archaeological excavations and archeometrical studies such as the present project contribute to better undersanding oi he cultural devlopment and origin oi the Neolithic culture in coastal West Anatolia.