The Stratigraphic Results of the Salat Tepe Excavations in 2000-2002

Abstract

Salat Tepe is one of the ancient settlemenst on the Salat Çay north of Tigris within the area to be flooded by the Ilısu-Dam. The earliest occupation on the natural hill belongs to Late Chalcolithic Period. The stratigraphical sequence on the southern slope points to a dense occupation during this period. The ceramic and small finds from these layers resemble the North Mesopotamian tradition of the Fourth Millennium BC. The excavations on the mound summit brought out a large mud brick building (Level IV) disturbed by granary pits dug on the mound since the First Millennium BC. The mound summit was occupied also in the Hellenistic (Level III-II) and Medieval (Level I) Periods. After the Medieval Period Salat Tepe was no longer preferred for settling. The mound has been used then as a necropolis since today.