The Cultural Development in Samsun (Amisos) Region

Abstract

The archaeological survey, conducted under the direction of Prof.Dr. Önder Bilgi, took place between 18 and 27 July 2000. Participants of the survey team were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Sümer Atasoy, Dr. Şevket Dönmez, Dr. Latife Summerer, archaeologist Burhan Gülkan and student Murat Türkteki. The Turkish Government was represented by Mr. Ekrem Anaç from the Tokat Museum. In connection with the project following districts in the Samsun region were surveyed in seven steps, and the following archaeological remains werea visited; 1. The valley of Kızılırmak River between İkiztepe and Altınkaya Dam in the Bafra district. Kapıkaya, Asarkale and its rock-cut tombs and Martı Kale. 2. Külcüler tumulus near Sarıkaya köyü near Bafra and Kışla tumulus near Dağ Köyü and Dökme Tepe in the 19 Mayıs district. 3. Fortress at Akalan and its surroundings near Çatmaoluk köyü in the western part of the Samsun region. 4. The Apollon open-air cult center on Kale Tepe near Emirli köyü and Kaledoruğu Höyük and the Caravanserai called Taşhan, the old wooden mosque and Roman stone bridge near Çakallı köyü in the Kavak district. 5. The Lerdüge tumulus near Çamyatağı köyü in the Havza district and Ağu Boğazı Mevkii near Gökdoğan köyü in the neighbourhood of the Durağan district. 6. Amisos was revisited to see the recently found rock-cut tomb of a royal family and to survey the western slope of the Toraman Tepe of Amisos. Within two areas increasing levels of destruction was observed: a) the Iron Age settlement at Akalan between in the Samsun district; b) the Helenistic settlement at Asarkale in the Bafra district. In both of this locations which are fortress types, the architectural remains of defensive structures have been subjected to the destruction of various elements such as the nature and the destruction of men. As such, it was seen that to reach the aims of the ongoing project, in all those locations immediate topographic works have to be developed to establish the position of these settlements and to place the present conditions of the architectural remains on those plans.