An Evaluation of the Bronze and Iron Age Layers of Ancient Erciş-Çelebibaği Mound

Abstract

Çelebibağı (Cemetery) mound is, 12 km south-western of Van-Ercis, 1 km southeast of Çelebibağı district, and 1 km northwest of the ancient Erciş Fortress on Lake Van. Four archaeological excavations were conducted at Çelebibağı mound from 1992 to 1995. The surface of the mound has been used as a cemetery from the Middle Ages to the present day and, as a result of this, even limited excavations in this area unearthed a number of Islamic period burials. Because of the rising level of Lake Van, the mound became an island in 1994-1995. The rising water level has therefore destroyed some of the site, in particular the south-western part. In order to discover the extent of the occupation at the site in 1994 (ÇM-94/S-I) and 1995 (ÇM-94-95/S-II.) two 5x5 m trenches were opened up. In the first trench the excavation team discovered 8 Islamic period burials 1.20 cm below the surface and a further 6 burials were found in the second trench at a depth of 1.5 m, dating to the same period. Underlying these Islamic burials, pottery sherds of the Early and Middle (Urartian) period were unearthed. In addition to these ceramics Bronze Age pottery sherds were also discovered. In the second trench (ÇM-94-95/S-II.), about 1 m down, there was a substantial area of charcoal and on the eastern side of this trench there were two red and black jars and part of a basalt grinding stone. The advancing water level prevented further excavation on both these trenches. Overall, the evidence from area of ÇM-94-95/S-II revealed that the top of the mound was used as a Islamic cemetery while lower levels showed Bronze and Iron Age activity at the site. The evidence of burning suggests that the Bronze Age settlement was destroyed by fire. Second millennium BC painted pottery was found in both trenches in addition to medieval, Urartian, Early Iron and Bronze Age ceramics, thus indicating that Çelebibağı mound had a long history of occupation. The site of Çelebibağı is very important; as it shows that Urartian settlements were not always located in defensible high positions and those sometimes low-lying sites were chosen instead (Giriktepe, Karagündüz). 1.5 km from the site of Çelebibağı, there was the cemetery and ritual centre known as Madavank on the shore of Lake Van. The tools especially the pottery sherds acquired from the Çelebibağı mound show parallel features with the works produced from the Early Bronze Age until the Urartian era.