TaşKun Mevkii 1970–71

Extract

The work at Taşkun Mevkii consists to date of two seasons, 1970 and 1971. A third and final season is projected for the summer of 1973. Excavation in 1970 was restricted to a series of slots and one 4 × 4 m. square at the northern edge of the site in order to test the depth of occupation and to establish preliminary phasing (Fig. 1). On this basis the area was expanded in 1971 to expose structures, particularly of Phase 3 which had proved to be most rewarding in 1970. It was found that the first season's phasing was substantially accurate, requiring only minor adjustments of Phase 1.

Phase 1 (Fig. 2, plan; Fig. 8, section)

(a) In 1970 painted pottery appeared in topsoil, thus linking the top of Taşkun Mevkii with Aşvan Kale and other sites in the area. The painted designs found at Taşkun Mevkii are represented on whole pots from Aşvan Kale (see French and Helms, below, p. 157, Fig. 5). It is now clear that this final occupation exists only in pits cut from topsoil or above and hence no contemporary occupation surfaces could be found in the area excavated.