Coordinates: 36°54′46″N 34°53′40″E / 36.91278°N 34.89444°E / 36.91278; 34.89444 Gözlükule is a tumulus within the borders of Tarsus city, Mersin Province, Turkey. It is now a park with an altitude of 22 metres (72 ft) with respect to surrounding area.

Gözlükule
Gözlükule Location in Turkey
Coordinates: 36°54′46″N 34°53′40″E / 36.91278°N 34.89444°E / 36.91278; 34.89444

History[link]

Initially settled in the Neolithic Period, Gözlükule became an important settlement and a port during the 2nd millennium BC. ^[1] It was located at the intersection of the main road systems, one following the Mediterranean sea side, the other following valleys through Toros Mountains to Anatolian plateau (so called Cicilian Gates). Eventually the city of Tarsus was established just north of Gözlükule. But Gözlükule was still active as the port of Cilicia. In 41 BC Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony entered Tarsus using the port of Gözlükule.

In later years, the coastline moved to south because of the sediment carried by the Berdan River and Gözlükule lost its importance as a port.

Archaeology[link]

Before the official excavations began, the tumulus had been partially damaged. During French occupation of Tarsus following the first world war, a French battalion had been deployed on Gözlükule. It is believed that this operation resulted in some depredation.

The initial excavations between 1934 and 1939 were carried out by a team from Bryn Mawr College and the Institute for Advanced Study led by Hetty Goldman. ^{[2] [3] [4]} She was the first officially sanctioned woman archeologist.^[5] After being interrupted by the Second World War, some additional work went on from 1947 to 1949. The stratification recovered at the site is important in Bronze Age Anatolian chronology.

In 2001, Boğaziçi University began to work at the site, with excavations beginning in 2007. ^[6]

The finds[link]

• Neolithic age: Pieces of plaster, obsidian tools, arrowheads, spears, ceramic

• Chalcolithic age: jars, pots, water jags,

• Bronze age: Bronze weapons, stamps, ruins of adobe buildings, city wall

^[7]

• Ancient age: A part of the treaty signed between Telepinu the king of Hittites and Isputahsu of Kizuwatna (vassal of Hittites), the stamp of Isputahsu, the stamp of Puduhepa, the Hittite queen, a crystal sculpture.

^{[8] [9]}

See also[link]

• Cities of the ancient Near East
• Machteld Mellink

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Hetty Goldman, Preliminary Expedition to Cilicia, 1934, and Excavations at Gözlü Kule, Tarsus, 1935, American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 526–549, 1935
• Hetty Goldman, Excavations at Gözlü Kule, Tarsus, 1936, American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 262–286, 1937
• Hetty Goldman, Excavations at Gözlü Kule, Tarsus, 1937, American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 30–54, 1938
• Hetty Goldman, Excavations at Gözlü Kule, Tarsus, 1938, American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 60–86, 1940

External links[link]

• Web site of current dig
• Adana Archaeological Museum
• A page from Boğaziçi University

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