EXCAVATIONS
The
2002 Excavations
The 2002 campaign of excavation was concentrated on continuing work
at two important locations, the Palace Complex and the Cappadocia
Gate (Fig. 27).
The Palace Complex
There are three main results from the relatively extensive excavation
that David Stronach, assisted by Isabelle Ruben, conducted at the
Palace Complex. Firstly, the position of a monumental gateway leading
to the complex was established and an extensive area of the pavement
leading to it was cleared. Secondly, further explorations were made
in the very large two-roomed building, perhaps an 'Audience Hall'
comprising a columned hall and anteroom, which was partially examined
in 2000. Thirdly, just to the north of the 'Audience Hall', but apparently
located in a separate section of the complex, excavation uncovered
part of a two-roomed building with wide central doorways, which we
have called the 'Ashlar Building'.
The
Pavement and the Monumental Gateway
The south-eastern corner and a small stretch of the south wall of
the very large tower flanking the north side of this monumental gateway
was exposed (Figs 1,
28,
29,
30
and 31).
This corner was built of large granite ashlars with horizontal squared
timbers between each course, and capped by a single course of huge
blocks of dressed sandstone. Large pieces of carbonised timber were
recovered from amongst the fallen stone. Impressive though it must
have been, the incorporation of so much timber meant that when the
city burnt the heat generated by beams in the walling was sufficient
to damage very badly the granite. Further, the voids that were left
when the beams burnt away caused the upper courses of the wall facing
to collapse, or perhaps aided its deliberate destruction. Fragments
of a sandstone column base suggest a monument of considerable grandeur.
This monumental gate was constructed during the course of major modifications
to an earlier scheme which were in some way associated with the cutting
through of the stone glacis at the eastern end of the Palace Complex,
and also with the addition of the terraces that belong to Structure
B. This latter structure was partially built over the original stone
paved entrance to the fortified building (Structure A). Further excavation
will be needed to unravel the precise sequence of construction, but
sufficient has already been recovered to demonstrate that the monumental
gate was also built on top of the pavement.
With
regard to the pavement itself, it was found that there had been at
least one major extension to the paved area before the building of
Structure B. The original south-eastern limit of the paving was defined
by a row of particularly large slabs. The extension to the south-east
was composed of smaller stones that appear to have been laid with
less care and attention. This addition to the pavement did not, however,
continue as far as the base of the stone glacis in front of Structure
A, nor did it extend across the street on the southern edge. Further
clearance will be necessary to establish whether some of the straight
lines that can be discerned in the northern area of paving represent
methods of working or secondary extension of the paved area. In either
event, it would seem that the paving covers an open or public space
rather than a street or road.
Two large sheet bronze cut-outs of the lower halves of a pair of ibex
were found resting directly on top of the pavement. These finds are
described later in this report, but it is appropriate to note that
they were discovered in close proximity to Structure B not far from
the western limit of Trench 01 (a little to the right of centre in
Fig. 29).
Suggestively, a small iron nail with a gilded head was recovered nearby.
It would seem to be very possible that the upper parts of these ibex
were made of more precious metal and that they were attached to a
timber element of the monumental gateway. It might then be imagined
that the entire decorative arrangement was torn off and the bronze
pieces thrown aside with disdain before the Complex was put to the
torch.
The stone paving was drawn in the field at a scale of 1:20. It was
also photographed in 1 x 1m sections for photo-rectification and drawing.
This second method is no less accurate than the first and, although
the total input of time and effort is perhaps no smaller, it is a
less gruelling method of recording large areas of pavement. Ideally
drawings made from rectified photographs are checked against the actual
remains in the field, although in this case it was deemed sufficient
to resolve any uncertainties by means of reference to the field drawings.
The 'Audience Hall'
Test Trench, excavated in 2000, revealed the corner of a very large
building, comprising a columned hall and anteroom. In 2002 a new trench,
Tr 02, substantially increased the exposure of this structure (Figs
27
and 32).
The monumental gate appears to have opened into a large precinct opposite
the central doorway of this impressive building which must surely,
therefore, have been an 'Audience Hall'.
The main room, which measures approximately 20m along each side, had
two rows of wooden columns resting on carved sandstone column bases.
There appear to have been 6 column bases in each row, but these, together
with ashlar door stones and thresholds, were robbed at some later
date, so that only fragments remain. Nevertheless, it is possible
to state that the column bases were approximately 1.00m in diameter
and had a simple concave or incurving profile with no moulding.
The roof would have been pitched and covered with thatch or, perhaps,
shingles. In any event, there was sufficient combustible material
to have baked the floor hard during the fire but, unlike other buildings
that have been tested by excavation, burnt roof fragments of reed
impressed clay were not found in this impressive building.
The 'Ashlar Building'
The main characteristics of this 'Ashlar Building' are a single course
of granite pseudo-ashlars on both the inner and outer faces of each
wall, which supported a timber frame filled with stone rubble covered
by a flat roof of reeds and clay (Figs 33
and 36).
The building comprises two rooms each with a wide central doorway
on the eastern side (Figs 34
and 35).
The overall length of the building is estimated to be very close to
15.00m while the width, which can be more precisely calculated because
the centre points of the threshold stones are known, is 8.80m. The
width of the south and east walls is 1.00m whereas the internal wall
is somewhat broader at 1.30m. All walls appear to have been provided
with slightly wider stone footings.
The larger, inner room (Room 2) is square, measuring approximately
6.80 by 6.80m and, apart from an undulating, multi-layered floor of
mud plaster, the excavated area was found to be devoid of features
(Fig. 38).
The outer, rectangular room (Room 1) was smaller, measuring some 4.90
by 6.80m. The central doorway in the east wall was, at 3.00m, a whole
meter wider than that connecting the two rooms.
The outer room was provided with a surround of sandstone paving and
a lightly burnt mud-plaster floor (Figs 36,
37
and 39).
Originally some combustible flooring material would have covered the
little worn mud-plaster floor and lapped over the roughly cut offset
edges of the sandstone pavers, although no trace of any such material
remained.
Structurally the building comprised a very substantial timber frame
which was bedded on the level top of a single course of pseudo-ashlar
masonry. In the smaller outer room the flat reed and mud portion of
the roof was held up by beams with a span approaching 5.00m. The larger,
inner room would have required beams close to 9.00m in length unless
there were supporting columns. The walls were preserved to a height
of about 0.90m, except where the ashlars had been robbed at the eastern
end of the building and from either side of the central doorway between
the two rooms. The rooms themselves were filled with burnt debris
from the upper walling and roof.
Mud plaster covered the upper walling, but not the granite blocks.
The outer room was provided with a surround of sandstone paving. The
faces of the granite ashlars had drafted or bevelled edges on three
sides, the bottommost edge being left slightly proud. Some of the
ashlars, including those either side of the doors, were found to have
been robbed out. The intensity of the heat from the fire had badly
cracked the stonework, leaving no option other than to cover the walls
and surfaces with geo-textile, which discourages burrowing animals
and the growth of deep-rooted plants, and to backfill carefully the
building.
Inscribed
Marks
Five of the presently exposed ashlars have lines of intentionally
cut marks or signs of uncertain significance. All exposed marks are
on the interior faces of the building. The marks were apparently made
with a chisel. There is no indication as to the particular script
that is represented by these marks, except that they would seem not
to be hieroglyphic. Ashlars 2 and 4 in the south wall of outer room,
possess very similar markings (Fig. 40).
Ashlar no. 2 carries a row that reads 'O I I I I I I I' while ashlar
no. 4 carries the longest row 'O I I I I I I I I I', i.e. a circle
or lozenge followed by seven and nine strokes respectively (Figs 41,
42
and 43
Blocks 2 & 4).
In the inner room three further ashlars, nos. 10, 12 and 14 possess
shorter, simpler and slightly less prominent marks consisting, in
each case, of three narrow, either vertical or diagonal strokes (Fig.
43
Blocks 10, 12 & 14).
These types of markings are often referred to as masons marks, although
in this instance both the length and the position of the markings
is unusual.
The
"Cappadocia Gate"
The cutting of the section across the entire width of gate passage
revealed that it would only have been possible for wheeled vehicles
to pass through the gate during the Iron Age (Figs 44
and 45).
Immediately after the fire, in or around 547 BC, the gate was deliberately
destroyed. At some later date, perhaps, as suggested by pottery sherds,
in the Byzantine period, part of the rubble fill of the passage was
removed so as to make a track fit for animals. A battered pile of
stones was used to retain the very loose rubble fill on the western
side of this narrow track. It is now understood, therefore, that the
wide and prominent road that climbs gently up the hillside to the
"Cappadocia Gate" is Iron Age in date. The floor of the
gate passage was unpaved, the eroded Iron Age surface of the passage
being covered with charcoal fragments from the city's destruction.
Other work at the gate was carried out in preparation for more extensive
clearance and conservation in 2003. When this program is completed,
the "Cappadocia Gate" will provide a focal point with strong
visual impact for a growing number of visitors (Figs 46,
47,
48,
49
and 50).
Finds
Ceramics
Very few ceramic pieces were found in 2002. The Ashlar Building and
the Audience Hall produced no more than a handful of small sherds
between them, and only a few undiagnostic and abraded bits were recovered
from the stone pavements. At the Cappadocia Gate, however, one reconstructable
juglet (Fig. 51)
was found in the erosion gully at the south-west corner of the passage.
This particular vessel has a cut-away spout and a concave disc base.
The surface was coated with black slip and burnished, and further
embellished with panels of incised geometric patterning. Sherds from
not dissimilar fine ware juglets have been noted at other parts of
the site.
Bronze Fibula
A typical bronze fibula (Fig. 52)
was also found in the erosion gulley at the Cappadocia Gate. Although
it has lost its pin this piece, like much of the metalwork at Kerkenes,
is remarkably well preserved. The condition is so good that the marks
of the metal-smith's file could be clearly seen once the loose dirt
had been brushed away.
Bronze Ibex
The lower halves of an antithetical pair of ibex (Figs 53,
54,
55 and
56)
were recovered from the stone pavement in Tr 01, as described above.
The pieces are very large, the complete example measuring 41cm. The
height of the entire animal, including horns, would therefore have
been in excess of 1.00m or perhaps as much as two-thirds life-size.
The extant pieces were cut from sheet bronze. The complete example
has one nail hole in each hoof and a third in the tail (but none along
the top edge). Muscles and joints are very slightly embossed and emphasised
by means lines and incomplete circles, these latter apparently made
with a punch. Although the second animal is less well preserved than
the first, it is nevertheless very substantial. It is certain that
the two animals are not exactly identical, with the stance of the
tail, for instance, being slightly different in each case.
The rampant pose is certain. It would seem highly probable, therefore,
that the original composition included a central feature on which
the raised hoof of each animal rested. This is very likely to have
been a tree of life. A parallel for such a composition that is not
far distant from Kerkenes, and perhaps not very much later in date,
can be seen on the decorated terracotta tiles from Pazarli near Çorum.
It is possible, but by no means certain, that the animals were winged.
Such an arrangement would perhaps go some way to explaining why the
extant pieces end across the middle of the torso, particularly if
the wings were made of a different material. It is likewise possible,
but by no means necessary, to imagine that both animals were looking
back over their shoulders rather than facing forwards. Whatever the
original composition, it seems more than reasonable to assume that
the horns were emblazoned with gold.
Finds from the Ashlar Building
There were no finds which might provide any hint as to the function
of this special building. One fragment of silver foil (Fig. 57)
and one very small frit bead (not illustrated) were recovered along
with three iron nails (Fig. 58)
two of which have distinctive, asymmetric, triangular heads.
Bones
In her study of the animal bones (Fig. 59),
mostly from earlier seasons, Vicky Ioannidou has discovered that wild
beasts, including bear, pig and three species of deer, were prevalent
in the open area in front of the Palace Complex glacis.
Charcoal for Dendrochronolgy
Large fragments of charcoal from burnt beams were recovered from the
excavations at the "Cappadocia Gate" and from the Monumental
Gateway to the Palace Complex (Fig. 60).
