EARLY BRONZE AGE DAGGERS IN CENTRAL ... - Bilkent University

from the Chalcolithic layers of Alaca Höyük. Koşay and Akok states that: “Fruit
stands and vessels with broad mouth and distinct base are very common, whereas a
vessel, found in tomb with a concave body represents a rare type”; Often, the rims of
the vessels are beveled and have nipples on the belly to serve as handles (Koşay-Akok,
1947: 153).
Koşay and Akok believed that the Early Bronze Age of Alaca Höyük was a
continuation of the same culture which took some of the elements from the earlier era,
Chalcolithic, and developed them further. The pottery of the Early Bronze Age in
Alaca Höyük is divided into six categories by the excavators: (1) Burnished pottery
which had red slip in both the exterior and the interior (Alaca Type I); (2) Relief
decorated and black slipped pieces which were also found in Ahlatlıbel and Kusura;
(3) “Ahlatlıbel” type with red interior and black exterior; (4) Gray ware; (5) sherds
decorated with nail incisions; (6) painted ware which is rarely found (Koşay-Akok,
1947: 154-155).
The rich metal finds from Alaca, including the daggers, came from the 13 so-
called “royal graves”. The graves were in use for more than one generation. The time
span suggested by Özgüç and Akok suggested a time span of 100 years as the
maximum, but possibly lower (Özgüç-Akok, 1957: 214). This meant that some of the
graves were older or younger than others. The spatial relations between the graves,
however, are not clear since the early excavators used the ground level as a stratum
marker despite the fact that the ground where graves are located slopes (Özyar, 1999:
79-85). Nevertheless, it was suggested that the graves were built on top of an
abandoned EBA II occupation layer. Due to this assumption, the “royal graves” were
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