Kurttepesi/Kurt Tepe
Websites:
Discovery date:
2013
Excavated since:
N/A
Estimated degree of Excavated area:
Minimal
GPS coordinates:
37.234700N, 39.241500E (We were there in November, 2022 and were unable to locate the exact site).
Elevation above sea level:
737 Meters
Comment Area:
“T” shaped pillars were unearthed at Kurt Tepesi that was recently discovered in 2013 at Şanlıurfa region as a result of the survey studies. The findings unearthed from other recently discovered sites were circular building remains that are rather characterized as domestic architectural buildings resemblinge the features of the period: stone vessels, grinding stones, pestles, and lithic tools. One of the intriguing sites identified in the same year is the Ayan– lar Höyük settlement. Several findings unearthed from this settlement that cover a land of 140 decares indicate that this settlement might be one of the settlements that accommodate a “T” shaped pillar. Harbetsuvan Tepesi, on the other hand, was discovered during the surveys conducted in 2014. “T” shaped pillars were discovered in this settlement as well. The settlements recently discovered in years 2013 and 2014 are located at the mountain ranges and plateaus located east and west of the Harran plain.
SETTLEMENTS THAT ACCOMMODATE “T” SHAPED PILLAR
Kurt Tepesi
Discovered for the first time during the surveys conducted in 2013, Kurt Tepesi settlement is located 47 km east of Şanlıurfa province and 3 km south of Sumaklı village. (Fig. 1). Its altitude from sea level is 730 m. The settle– ment is also known as Kuça Gura by the local community.
Kurt Tepesi settlement is located on a hill that dominates the Çoban Creek Pass, which serves as a passageway between Harran Plain and Viranşehir region (Fig. 2). It is a small mound established on a ridge formed by high calcareous plateaus, which is very poor in terms of soil. The western section of the mound that covers approximately 7-decare area is distorted due to illegal excavations. Moreover, a high voltage transmission line pole is located at the north end of the mound. Small cavern groups and a pool carved to the bedrock are determined at the calcareous rocks surrounding the mound. Furthermore, the quarries contemplated to be the site for extracting the “T” shaped pillars are also located northeast of the hill.
A site where a “T” shaped pillar excavated and removed is identified in an illegal excavation pit at Kurt Tepesi from Pre-Pottery Neolithic period with no ceramics (Fig. 3). During the surveys conducted at the villages in the vicinity, two pillars removed from their original site were discovered in Kösecik village located circa 6 km south– east of the hill (Fig. 4)18.
