Tepe Düzen: Aims 2008

The plateau of Tepe Düzen is immediately southwest of Sagalassos and separated from it only by the valley with the primary access to Hellenistic-Imperial Sagalassos and by the acropolis of the Zincirli Tepe. We intensively surveyed Tepe Düzen in 2005 and 2006, the preliminary research identifying Tepe Düzen as the Early Iron Age proto-urban predecessor to Hellenistic Sagalassos. Test soundings in 2006 and excavations in 2007 yielded a mass of new information. A rather complex succession of building phases with associated floor levels could be identified, and information was gathered on the architectural characteristics and dimensions of the buildings, garbage management, etc.

In 2008, we aim to work within two areas:

1. Area 1 is an extension of the trenches excavated in 2006 and 2007, where several buildings were only partially investigated. The excavated area will be extended in order to gain insight into the internal layout and size of these structures, and to have a better understanding of internal planning in this part of the settlement. A test sounding is planned in the northwestern extension of this area, where a geophysical survey indicated a large magnetic anomaly, which may be the remains of kilns.


2. Area 2 is southwest of area 1 and encompasses a large building with multiple small rooms both attested at the surface and during geomagnetic surveying. Since the layout of this structure is markedly different from others in its vicinity, we would like to check whether its remains and associated finds contain information as to its function (storage facility?).