Cappadocia Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Acemhöyük, situated at the southern half of Anatolia, where four main roads intersect, easily communicated with the surrounding regions and beyond, through its easily accessible position. Especially, the Acemhöyük settlers, who had established a strong trading network during the Old Assyrian Age, effectively made use of this suitable position. As a result, the increased wealth was reflected in its pottery along with many other items. In the excavations of Acemhöyük, being conducted for more than 40 years, many pottery finds have been unearthed attesting this situation, which is being discussed in this thesis titled as “Acemhöyük Pottery in the Old Assyrian Trade Age”.
In the VIth and partially in the Vth levels of the settlement, the Transition Phase from the Early Bronze into the Old Assyrian Age is observed; and in the IVth level the Early phase of the Old Assyrian Age is observed. These levels have only been investigated in a limited area and for a short period. The most remarkable period of Acemhöyük is the Late Phase of the Old Assyrian Age at the IIIrd level of the settlement. In this level, which can also be named as “The Monumental Buildings Phase”, two palace buildings and one Service Building has been unearthed so far, and in the rooms of these buildings rare and precious finds of the era have been found. In the IInd and Ist levels, the characteristic of the pottery has not changed, eventhough the same can not be told for the monumental architecture. The Lower City/Karum Area of the settlement consists of four levels and has a parallel progress with the top part of the settlement.
In the Transition Phase and the Early Phase of the Old Assyrian Age of Acemhöyük, the pottery with painted decoration inherited from the Early Bronze Age, declines significantly and leaves its space to monochrome ceramic. In this phase, the production of the wheelmade painted pottery begins and for the first time, this pottery is observed besides the hand made painted pottery. In the Late Phase of the Old Assyrian Age the bands on painted pottery get narrower. In this phase, the painted vessels reduce in number, however, the variety of the painted decorations increase. Also the area where the painted decoration is applied gets constricted, especially the upper half of the vessels are preferred for applying the decorations. In the Ist level of the settlement, the pottery with painted decoration looses its charm. The predominant pottery group of Acemhöyük in the Old Assyrian Age is monochrome pottery. Among the slipped and slip-polished vessels red (wine red) is the most, and brown is the second most preferred color. The other major group, the buff coloured pottery reflects the color of its dough and is wet-smoothed. The Acemhöyük vessels are metallic bright, due to being well polished. Likewise, the vessel types known to be having rounded body shapes from earlier periods, take a carinated body shape in the Late Old Assyrian Age, and this confirms that these pottery vessels are an imitation of metal examples. Also, many stone vessels found in Acemhöyük are imitated. Ivory vessels are imitated as well. These vessel types, utilized with great admiration, were also depicted in seal impressions. The known vessel types of Acemhöyük and their rich derivatives appear in the IIIrd level. The Acemhöyük vessels have a flat appearance and this the most characteristic feature of the Acemhöyük Late Old Assyrian Age vessels. These vessel types, appearing in the Late Old Assyrian Age levels will be inherited to the Hittite Age.
The most important partner of Acemhöyük has been Kültepe-Kaniş. Most of the vessel types recorded in Acemhöyük is found in Kültepe as well. It is obvious that the Kültepe finds are more diverse. The vessel types of the different levels of Kültepe exhibit distinct differences, in Acemhöyük this difference is not as obvious. Acemhöyük also had close relations with the settlements within the Halys arc, its vessel types exhibit similarities especially with the vessel types of Alişar, Boğazköy and Alaca Höyük. The northwestern limit of the Acemhöyük Old Assyrian Age pottery is Polatlı-Karahöyük. There has been a long lasting relation between Acemhöyük and Beycesultan, a settlement in the interior Agean Region. Konya-Karahöyük, situated between these two settlements exhibit a parallel layering, however differ with its vessels having a dim appearance. The eastern frame of Acemhöyük consists of the Middle Euphrates settlements. The Acemhöyük pottery is native, however it is not restricted to Anatolia. Some vessel types in Acemhöyük indicate contacts with Syria through the Amuq Plain. Many vessel types are common with Yumuktepe and Gözlükule, situated in Cilicia. Also many vessel types found in Cyprus, Crete, Agean Islands and Greece are known in Acemhöyük, mostly they are not used earlier than in Acemhöyük.