23. araştırma sonuçları toplantısı 1. cilt - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

GÖKSU ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT 2002-2004
Hugh ELTON*
The Göksu Archaeological Project is a survey project located in the Taurus
Mountains between Mut and Karaman, centring on the famous churches at Alahan
(Fig. 1). This area was selected for work because of the impending construction of the
Mut Baraj› at Derinçay, 13 km northwest of Mut. As well as examining the areas that
will be flooded, extensive work has taken place in the surrounding regions to build up
a picture of changing settlement patterns, communication routes and economic strategies
in both uplands and lowlands. The survey attempts to cover all periods between
the Palaeolithic and 1923. Beyond the dam, work here is important because of the lack
of systematic study of this region. Although a previous director of the BIAA, Michael
Gough, carried out work at Alahan, Aloda and Da¤pazar›, these studies focussed on
architecture and say little about their context. The survey thus helps to provide additional
information about these sites.
From 2002, international teams have worked in September, based either at Mut
or Alahan village. The team members have come from the UK, Turkey, US, Canada,
Germany, and Norway, ranging from undergraduates to university professors, supported
mostly by grants from the BIAA. The work takes place with a permit granted by
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and with the support of the Silifke Museum. From
2004, an additional spring season has been carried out by students from the College
of Charleston, USA, led by Dr. J. Newhard. The work includes exploration and constructing
an archaeological map, sherd collection, and building recording. Mapping
both the extensive and intensive surveys is assisted by the use of handheld GPS units.
Use has also been made of a Geoscan FM 36 magnetometer and a Trimble 5605 SDR
200+ Reflectorless TOTAL Station. Extensive use has been made of GIS during this
work, so that data regarding artefact distribution from the intensive survey has been
available for analysis during the field season itself and allows the easy identification of
significant concentrations of surface material.
1. The Mut Baraj›
The Mut Baraj› is planned to be built at Derinçay, at the head of the Ço¤la
Canyon. The dam, built to supply electricity, will flood an area including the village of
Köprübafl›, with areas up to 307.5 m above sea level being inundated. The flood plain
of the planned reservoir is being examined by extensive and intensive survey. The
extensive work focuses on the whole of the Göksu valley between Derinçay and
Çamp›nar›. Areas to the east of Köprübafl› are dominated by forests, so locating sites
depends to a great extent on local guides. Here, the team recorded two bridges, one
* Hugh ELTON, ‹ngiliz Arkeoloji Ensititüsü, Tahran Cad. No:24 Kavakl›dere-Ankara/TÜRK‹YE www.biaatr.org/goksu
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