Yalburt Yaylası Archaeological Landscape Research Project’s 2016 Season continues with the discovery of new archaeological sites in the field. The project team is working on the karst landscapes around the great Hittite dam, known in scholarly literature as Köylütolu Yayla dam with its Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscription. The dam is also known among the locals as Büyük Büvet. This is dated to the time of Tudhaliya IV (13th century BCE). Last year, Yalburt team documented a second and minor dam known as Küçük Büvet in the vicinity of the big dam. So the project is aiming to understand the great ambition of this agricultural investment by surveying sites in the close vicinity of the dam. The engaging research question is the relationship of ancient settlements with the fascinating karst depression-springs or resurgences in this landscape known as the “Gölyeri” (Lake-place) phenomenon. Some exciting places are revealing new stories of this watery agricultural landscape. (Most) Photographs by Dilcan Acer.
Start of the day at Küllük Mevkii, Karaköy Village, Ilgın. 23 July 2016