Değirmentepe

Değirmentepe or Değirmentepe Hüyük is an archaeological site which is located at 50 km north of the river Euphrates and at 24 km in the northeast of Malatya province in eastern Anatolia. It is now submerged in the reservoir area of the Karakaya and Atatürk dams. Rescue excavations were undertaken in 1978 under the supervision of Ufuk Esin of Istanbul University and interrupted in 1989 by flooding of the dams.[1]

Four archaeological layers whose dates are determined by techniques such as C14 and traces of fusion have been discovered in this mound:

1. Middle Ages (late Roman-Byzantine period)
2. Iron Age (1000 BC)
3. Bronze Age ancient I (Karaz or Khirbet Kerak culture, end of 4th millennium-beginning of 3rd millennium BCE)
4. Chalcolithic Age (Ubaid period, second half of Vth millennium BCE.)

The Chalcolithic Değirmentepe level of Ubaid-4 of the second half of the Vth millennium BCE, of which the sites of Tülintepe, Seyh Hüyük and Kurban Hüyük are contemporary, contain skeletons of adolescents with skull deformed. The remains of this cultural phase belonging to the Chalcolithic are relatively well preserved. However, serious damage caused by occasional flooding of the Euphrates did occur, especially on architectural structures and the cemetery. Cranial deformities are not observed on human remains discovered and identified in Iron Age periods and medieval levels from Değrentepe.[2]

The Chalcolithic period of this ancient village is characterized by rectangular mud brick houses that communicate with each other. We see the appearance of domestic animals such as dogs, sheeps, goats, pigs and Bovinae than at the beginning of the Chalcolithic. barley, wheat, oats, and peas were the most commonly cultivated plants.

Many potteries characteristic of Ubaid culture have been found at the site. Archaeologists have discovered 450 sealings there which indicate intensive commercial activities, and production management.[2]