Bademağacı Report for the Campaigns of 2004, 2005 and 2006

Abstract

In this report the results of the excavation work carried out in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 at Bademağacı Höyük (where excavations began in 1993) are presented together. During these three years, the work mainly took place in the previously unexcavated western section of Trench A in the northern part of the höyük and in Trench E, which spread over an extensive part of the central and southern sections of the hillside. During the 14 years over which the excavations have continued, the settlement / stratigraphy of the northern half of the höyük has been established in considerable detail. Virgin soil was reached in two separate deep trenches/soundings (DA 1 and DA 2) at a depth of around -9 m. Of the periods identified in these deep soundings, not very much information could be obtained about the first five settlement levels of the Early Neolithic I (EN 1), EN I / 9-5 and for this reason there is nothing new to add to what was said in the 'Report' about the stratigraphy of these early levels. The same is true of the settlement sub-levels of Early Neolithic II, EN II / 4 B, 4 A, 4, 3 A and 3. The situation is a bit different when we come to the last two levels of EN II, EN II / 2 and 1. The architecture of these two settlements, uncovered in the new excavation area of Trench A, could be relatively better understood than those of the earlier excavation seasons and new information was obtained. In recent excavation seasons the evidence from new finds suggesting the need to change the previously established stratigraphy of the EBA II settlements at Bademağacı, which have been excavated over an extensive area and have produced rich architecture and a large number of small finds, has increased. In the area of Trench E, where excavations continued, a multi-roomed buildiııg complex was uncovered that yielded significant finds such as some new pottery types and a large number of stamp seals; the presence of these items strengthens the possibility that this building group had a special function.