Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:49 AM Sayfa
Early Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC)
During the Bronze Age, the people of Anatolia obtained bronze towards
the end of the 4th millennium BC and the beginning of the 3rd millennium
BC by mixing tin into copper, thus the age was named the Bronze Age.
This age is divided into three Ages known as the First, Middle and the
Late Bronze Age. They made weapons, pots and decorative items from
bronze, while treating gold, copper and silver at the same time creating
everyday and religious objects. The village-type settlements first
transformed into towns and then into cities. People living here were
engaged in trade, and as wealth increased as a result of developing trade
and accumulated in certain hands, social classifications occurred and
the concept of state with all its institutions arose. With the arrival of the
potter’s lathe from Mesopotamia, pottery rose to the highest level.
Mining was also developed.
The Early Bronze Age is studied under three stages as I, II and III. The
most important location of Stage I of the First Bronze Age in Anatolia
is Troia I (3000-2700 BC). The other centers in Western Anatolia are
Yortan, Babaköy and Ovabay›nd›r in the Bal›kesir region. Kusura in
Afyon is contemporary with Troia I. The other centers, corresponding
to the end of Troia I are Harmanören in Isparta, and Liman Tepe, Bakla
Tepe and Bayrakl› near ‹zmir. In South Western Anatolia, particularly
Beycesultan, as well as Aphrodisias, Badema¤ac› and Karatafl Semayük
on Elmal› Plain are centers characterizing this period. In Beycesultan,
which was surrounded by ramparts like Troia, small house altars and
violin-shaped marble idols all reflect the local traits.
Demircihöyük on Eskiflehir Plain, Büyük Göllücek and Alacahöyük near
Çorum in Central Anatolia, Aliflar near Yozgat, Konya Karahöyük, Bafra
‹kiztepe in Northern Anatolia, Samsun Dündartepe, Tekeköy, Kavak and
Kocagözhöyük near Sinop are the main centers inhabited throughout
the First Bronze Age. Furthermore, Lidarhöyük by the Euphrates is a
First Bronze Age settlement in South Eastern Anatolia.
The Second Stage of the First Bronze Age dated to 2700-2400 BC, starts
with Troia II, which was established on the remnants of Troia I. The
largest of the megaron-type structures within the castle, which was
slightly more expanded, were defined as a palace or temple. A great
development in arts was achieved here, casting and wroughting
Bull figure (statuette) Alacahöyük, Early Bronze Age Stylised bronze
figure stands on a four branched base. Inlayed with fine silver spirals on
the neck, torso, forehead and tips of the horns. Cast and beaten bronze.
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