2nd Millennium B.C. Settlements in Samsun-Amasya Provinces, Surveyed Results 1997-1999

Abstract

In this article is about, the 2nd millennium B.C. settlements and their findings that I have surveyed, in the Samsun Province (Sivri Tepe, Gökçeboğaz Tepe, Şirlek Tepe, Kelbeş Tepe, Tedigün Tepe, Elmacık Tepe, Yiğitler Tepesi, Kirmencik-Tepecik, Aytepe, Tepecik, Taşkaracaören Tepe and Oymaağaç Höyük), in Amasya Province (Onhoroz Tepe, Samadolu Höyüğü, Alıcık Höyük, Alacapınar Tepe, Delicik Tepe, Kümbet Tepe, Dereağıl Tepesi, Yoğurtçubaba Tepesi, Doğantepe, Oluz Höyük, Kale­Hızarönü Tepesi and Gediksaray Höyüğü) in 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons. It is seen that above introduced settlements and their findings of 2nd millennium B.C., reflects the chronological order correctly, in the area covered by the Samsun and Amasya provinces, that comprise the core of the Central Black Sea Region, following into consideration the stratigraphy of the İkiztepe and Dündartepe in the Coastal zone, and Maşat Höyük in the Landzone. While in the known written sources of Hittites, there are approximately 2000 settlements by name, big or small in Northern Anatolia, which are presently a couple of hundreds in addition, one in the Coastal zone belong to the Pre-Hittite ta Assyrian Trading Colonies Period. in the future, new researches in evitable swell the number of 2nd millennium BC. Settlements in the area and the number definitely fell short from the numbers that mentioned in written Hittite sources. This possibly means that because of the usage of wood, as construction material, especially in the Coastal zone settlements dated to the Old Hittite and Hittite Empire periods did not survive till today. Besides, another possibly is dense plant life in the region just cover them up.