New Insights on the Sealing Practices in Early Bronze Age Anatolia: A Case Study from Küllüoba, Eskişehir

New Insights on the Sealing Practices in Early Bronze Age Anatolia: A Case Study from Küllüoba, Eskişehir

This paper presents a detailed examination of a cretula found in situ during the excavations at Küllüoba, situated in the westernmost part of Central Anatolia. A series of at least three sealings were impressed side by side on this piece of clay that covered the mouth of a bottle or a narrow-necked jar. The same seal, which created these sealings at the rim of the vessel, was also used to roll impressions on the bottom part of the cretula. The find, which is a first in Küllüoba, where excavations have been carried out for many years, is compared with the few examples found in Anatolia. Their similarities and differences are discussed in this paper. Although various types of stamp seals unique to Anatolia have been unearthed in many settlements where the Early Bronze Age (EBA) is well represented, the functions of sealings are scarce. The abovementioned cretula found in Küllüoba will play a part in re-examining the function of stamp seals that have no associated sealings discovered so far and in understanding the mechanisms of commerce and economics emerging in Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age.

___

  • Akkermans, P. M. M. G., and K. Duistermaat. 1996. “Of Storage and Nomads. The Sealings from Late Neolithic, Sabi Abyad, Syria.” Paleorient 22(2):17-44. google scholar
  • Arbuckle, Benjamin S. 2012. “The_rise_of_cattle_cultures_in_Bronze_Ag.” 277-97. google scholar
  • Aruz, J. 2008. Marks of Distinction: Seals and Cultural Exchange Between the Aegean and the Orient (Ca. 2600-1360 B.C.). In Corpus der Minoischen und Mykenischen Siegeln (Issue 7). von Zabern. google scholar
  • Atakuman, Ç. 2015. “From Monuments to Miniatures: Emergence of Stamps AndRelated Image-Bearing Objects during the Neolithic.” Cambridge Archaeological Journal 25(4):759-88. google scholar
  • Bachhuber, C. 2015. Citadel and Cemetery in Early Bronze Age Anatolia. London: Equinox. google scholar
  • Baykal Seeher, A., and J. Obladen Kauder. 1996. Demircihüyük IV: Die Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen 19751978. Die Kleinfunde. edited by M. O. Korfmann. Mainz am Rhein: Philip von Zabern. google scholar
  • Bernabo Brea, L. 1976. Poliochni, Citta’ Preistorica Nell’isola Di Lemnos, Vol.2. Roma: L’Erma di Bretschneider. google scholar
  • Blegen, C. W., J. L. Caskey, and M. Rawson. 1950. “Troy: General Introduction, the First and Second Settlements. Excavations Conducted by the University of Cincinnati 1932-1938.” google scholar
  • Çilingiroglu, Çiler. 2009. “Of Stamps, Loom Weights and Spindle Whorls: Contextual Evidence on the Function(s) of Neolithic Stamps from Ulucak, I'zmir, Turkey.” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 22(1):3-27. doi: 10.1558/jmea.v22i1.3. google scholar
  • Çizer, Ö. 2015. Archaeobotanical Investigations of Plant Cultivation and Husbandry Practicesat the Early Bronze Age Settlement Küllüoba in West-Central Turkey: Considerations on Environment, Climate and Economy. Oxford: Oxbow Books. google scholar
  • Çizer, Özgür. 2012. “Settlement Decline of EBA Küllüoba and Vicia Ervilia as Evidence for Increasing Aridity towards 4200 B . P .” (1989):72070. google scholar
  • Collon, D. 1990. Interpreting The Past- Near Eastern Seals. University of California Press. google scholar
  • Collon, Dominique. 2007. “Other Glyptic.” Pp. 445-48 in Excavations at Kilise Tepe 1994-98: From Bronze Age to Byzantine in Western Cilicia, edited by N. Postgate and D. Thomas. London/Cambridge: British Institute at Ankara/McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. google scholar
  • Cultraro, M., and A. Dova. 2004. “Lymnos, Myrina.” Pp. 333-40 in Corpus der minoischen und mykenischen Siegel. V: Kleinere griechische Sammlungen. Supplementum 3. Neufunde aus Griechenland und der westlichen Türkei, edited by I. Pini. Mainz: P. von Zabern. google scholar
  • Dede, G. 2014. “Anadolu’da Bulunmuş Eski Tunç Çağı’na Ait Damga ve Silindir Mühürler.” Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Ankara Universitesi. google scholar
  • Dedeoğlu, F. 2014. “Yukarı Menderes Havzası Bölgesel Yerleşim Analizi: Erken Tunç Çağı ’nda SosyoEkonomik Örgütlenmedeki Değişim ve Dönüşüm Süreçleri.” Pp. 19-42 in Yerleşim sistemleri ve mekan analizi, edited by Ö. Çevik and B. Erdoğu. İstanbul: Ege Yayınları. google scholar
  • Duistermaat, K. 1996. “The Seals and Sealings.” Pp. 339-401 in Tell Sabi Abyad: the Late Neolithic Settlement, edited by P. M. M. G. Akkermans. Leiden/Istanbul: Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut. google scholar
  • Efe, T. 2002. The Interaction Between Cultural/Political Entities and Metalworking in Western Anatolia during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages. In Ü. Yalçın (Ed.), Anatolian Metal II. Der Anschnitt (pp. 49-65). google scholar
  • Efe, T. 2003. “Pottery Distribution Within the Bronze Age of Western Anatolia and Its Implications upon Cultural, Political (and Ethnic?) Entities.” Pp. 87-104 in Archaeological essays in honour of Homo Amatus: Güven Arsebük için Armağan Yazıları, edited by M. Özbaşaran, O. Tanındı, and A. Boratav. Istanbul: Ege Yayınları. google scholar
  • Efe, T. 2009. “Küllüoba Da Erken İTÇ III Yapısında Ele Geçirilmiş Olan Kesik Gaga Ağızlı Bir Küp.” Pp. 269-73 in Altan Çilingiroğlu’na Armağan. Yukarı Deniz’in Kıyısında Urartu Krallığı’na Adanmış bir Hayat, edited by H. Sağlamtimur, E. Abay, Z. Derin, A. Ü. Erdem, A. Batmaz, F. Dedeoğlu, M. Erdalkıran, M. B. Baştürk, and E. Konakçı. İstanbul: Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları. google scholar
  • Efe, T. 2014. “Selected EB II Pottery Receovered in the Two Burnt Rooms at Küllüoba near Eskişehir.” Pp. 115-28 in armizzi. Studies in Honor of Engin Özgen, edited by A. Engin, B. Helwing, and B. Uysal. Ankara: Phoibos Verlag. google scholar
  • Efe, T. 2020. “Once Again on Early Bronze Age Trade and Trade Routes in Western Anatolia.” Pp. 121-33 in From Past to Present. Studies in Memory of Manfred O. Korfmann, Studıa Troıca Monographien 11, edited by E. Blum, Stephan W. E., Efe, Turan., Kienlin, T L., Pernicka. Bonn: Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt Gmbh Bonn. google scholar
  • Efe, T., and D. Ay-Efe. 2007. “The Küllüoba Excavations and the Cultural/Political Development of Western Anatolia Before the Second Millennium B.C.” in Vita/Hayat Belkıs Dinçol ve Ali Dinçol’ a Armağan, edited by M. Doğan-Alparslan, M. Alparslan, and H. Peker. Istanbul: Ege Yayınları. google scholar
  • Efe, T., and E. Fidan. 2008. “Complex Two in the Early Bronze Age II Upper Town of Küllüoba near Eskişehir.” Anatolica 34:67-102. google scholar
  • Efe, Turan. 2004. “Kültür Gruplarından Krallıklara: Batı Anadolu’nun Tarihöncesi Kültürel ve Siyasal Gelişim Profili.” Colloquium Anatolicum III:15-29. google scholar
  • Efe, Turan ; Türkteki, Murat. 2011. “Early Bronze Age Architecture in the Inland Western Anatolian Region.” Pp. 198-207 in Across: the Cyclades and Western Anatolia during the 3rd Millennium BC, edited by P. Şahoğlu, Vasif ; Sotirakopoulou. İstanbul: Kitap Yayınevi. google scholar
  • Erkanal, H., and V. Şahoğlu. 2016. “Liman Tepe, an Early Bronze Age Trade Center in Western Anatolia:Recent Investigations.” Pp. 157-67 in Early Bronze Age Troy: Chronology, Cultural Development, and Interregional Contacts. Proceedings of an International Conference held at the University of Tübingen, May 8-10, 2009, edited by E. Pernicka, S. Ünlüsoy, and S. Blum. Bonn: Dr. Rudolph Habelt GMBH. google scholar
  • Fiandra, E., and M. Frangipane. 2007. “Cretulae: The Object, Its Use and Its Functions.” Pp. 15-24 in Arslantepe Cretulae: An Early Centralised Administrative System Before Writing , edited by M. Frangipane, P. Ferioli, E. Fiandra, R. Laurito, and H. Pittman. Roma: Universita’ di Roma «La Sapienza». google scholar
  • Frangipane, M. 2010. Different models of power structuring at the rise of hierarchical societies in the Near East: primary economy versus luxury and defence management. In D. Bolger & L. Maguire (Eds.), Development ofpre-State communities in the ancient NearEast (pp. 79-86). Oxbow. google scholar
  • Frangipane, M. 2012. The Evolution and Role of Administration in Anatolia: A Mirror of Different Degrees and Models of Centralisation. In M. E. Balza, M. Giorgieri, & C. Mora (Eds.), Archives, Depots, And Storehouses in the Hittite World New Evidence and New Research (pp. 111-126). Studia Mediterranea 23, Italian University Press. google scholar
  • Goldman, H. 1956. “Excavations at Gözlü Kule, Tarsus: From the Neolithic through the Bronze Age.” 2. google scholar
  • Gündem, C. Y. 2012. “The Subsistence Economy in Inland Northwestern Anatolia during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age.” Mimarlar, Arkeologlar, Sanat Tarihçileri, Restoratörler Ortak Platformu 7:250-300. google scholar
  • Korfmann, M. O. 1983. Demircihüyük I: Die Ergebnisse Der Ausgrabungen 1975-1978: Architektur, Stratigraphie Und Befunde. edited by M. O. Korfmann. Mainz am Rhein: Philip von Zabern. google scholar
  • Koşay, H. Z. 1951. Alacahöyük Kazısı 1937-1939. Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları. google scholar
  • Kouka, Ourania. 2002. Siedlungsorganisation in Der Nord- Und Ostagais WahrendDer Frühbronzezeit (3. Jt. v.Chr.). Vol. 58. Raden Westfalia: Verlag Leidorf GmbH. google scholar
  • Kouka, Ourania. 2009. “Cross-Cultural Links and Elite Identities: The Eastern Aegean/Western Anatolia and Cyprus from the Early Third Millennium through the Early Second Millennium BC.” Pp. 31-47 in Cyprus and East Aegean: Intercultural Contacts from 3000 to 500 BC, Proceedings of the International Archaeological Symposium - Pythagoreion Samos, 17th -18th October 2008, edited by V. Karageorghis and O. Kouka. Nicosia: A.G. Leventis Foundation. google scholar
  • Kulakoğlu, F., and G. Öztürk. 2015. “New Evidence for International Trade in Bronze Age CentralAnatolia: Recently Discovered Bullae at Kültepe-Kanesh.” Antiquity 89(343):1-4. google scholar
  • Luschan, von Felix. 1943. Die Kleinfunde von Sendschirli, Ausgrabungen in Sendschirli V. Berlin: Verlag von Walter de Gruyter & Co. google scholar
  • Massa, M. (2016). Networks before Empires: cultural transfers in west and central Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age. Unpublished Phd Thesis. google scholar
  • Massa, M., and E. Fidan. 2017. “Metallurgy and Elites: Assessing Metal Production in Bronze Age Inland Western Anatolia, within Its Socio-Economic Context.” in Anatolian Metal VIII, edited by Ü. Yalçın. Bochum: Bergbau Museum. google scholar
  • Massa, M., and Y. Tuna. 2019. “A Clay Stopper from Boz Höyük (Afyon) in the Context of the Western and Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age Sealing Practices.” Anatolian Studies 69:59-75. google scholar
  • Massa, M, and A. Palmisano. 2018. “Change and Continuity in the Long-Distance Exchange Networks between Western/Central Anatolia, Northern Levant and Northern Mesopotamia, c.3200-1600 BCE.” Journal ofAnthropological Archaeology 49(January):65-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2017.12.003. google scholar
  • Mellink, M. J. 1967. “Excavations at Karataş-Semayük in Lycia, 1966.” American Journal ofArchaeology 71(3):251-67. google scholar
  • Mellink, M. J. 1972. “Excavations at Karataş-Semayük and Elmalı, Lycia, 1971.” American Journal of Archaeology 76(3):257-69. google scholar
  • Oğuzhanoğlu, U. 2019. A Lead Seal from the Laodikeia-Kandilkırı Excavatıons and An Overall Assessment of Seal Use in South-Western Anatolia During the Early Bronze Age. Oxford Journal ofArchaeology, 38(1), 39-64. google scholar
  • Özdoğan, M. 2011. “The Dynamics of Cultural Change in Anatolia.” Pp. 21-30 in AnatolianMetal V, edited by Ü. Yalçın. Bochum: Deutschen Bergbau-Museum. google scholar Özdoğan, Mehmet. 2022. “Bütüncül Bir Bakış Açısıyla İlk Tunç Çağı Ya Da Yerleşik Yaşamın Kurumsallaşması.” Pp. 1-18 in MÖ 3. Binyıl’da Anadolu, edited by M. Işıklı, E. Fidan, A. Türker, and M. A. Yılmaz. google scholar
  • Öztürk, G. 2019. “Yeni Kazılar Işığında Mö. 3. Binyıl’ın Sonunda Ve Mö. 2. Binyıl’ın Başında Kültepe Mühür Ve Mühür Baskıları.” Yayınlanmamış Doktora Tezi, Ankara Universitesi. google scholar
  • Palumbi, G. 2010. “The Early Bronze Age.” Pp. 51-56 in Yumuktepe: a journey through nine thousand years, edited by I. Caneva and G. Köroğlu. İstanbul: Ege Yayınları. google scholar
  • Pitman, H., Frangipane, M. 2007. “The Fourth Mıllennıum Glyptıcs At Arslantepe. pp. 175-354 in Arslantepe Cretulae: An Early Centralised Administrative System Before Writing, edited by M. Frangipane. Universita’ di Roma “La Sapienza.” google scholar
  • Pullen, D. 1994. A Lead Seal from Tsoungiza, Ancient Nemea, and Early Bronze Age Aegean Sealing Systems. American Journal of Archaeology, 98(1), 35-52. google scholar
  • Rahmstorf, L. 2016. “Emerging Economic Complexity in the Aegean and Western Anatolia during Earlier Third Millennium BC.” Pp. 225-76 in Of Odysseys and Oddities: Scales and modes of interaction between prehistoric Aegean societies and their neighbours, edited by B. P. C. Molloy. Oxford: Oxbow. google scholar
  • Rauh, H. 1981. “Knochenfunde von Saugetieren Aus Dem Demircihöyük (Nordwestanatolien).” University of München. google scholar
  • Şahoğlu, V. 2005. “The Anatolian Trade Network and the Izmir Region during the Early Bronze Age.” Oxford Journal of Archaeology 24(4):339-60. google scholar
  • Sarı, D. 2011. “Evolution Culturelle et Politique de l’Anatolie de l’Ouest Au Bronze Ancien et Au Bronze Moyen.” Paris/İstanbul. google scholar
  • Sarı, D. 2012. “İlk Tunç Çağı ve Orta Tunç Çağı’nda Batı Anadolu’nun Kültürel ve Siyasal Gelişimi.” MASROP E-Dergi 7:112-249. google scholar
  • Schliemann, H. 1881. Ilios: Stadt und Land der Trojaner. Forschungen und Entdeckungen in der Troas und besonders auf der Baustelle von Troja. Brockhaus. google scholar
  • Schmidt, H. 1902. Trojanischer Altertümer. Berlin: Reimer. google scholar
  • Sherratt, Andrew. 1981. “Plough and Pastoralism: Aspects of the Secondary Products Revolution.” Pp. 261305 in Pattern of the Past: Studies in honour of David Clarke, edited by I. Hodder, G. Isaac, and N. Hammond. Cambridge: CUP. google scholar
  • Stein, Gil J. 1994. “Economy, Ritual and Power in Ubaid Mesopotamia.” Chiefdoms and Early States in the Near East: The Organisational Dynamics of Complexity 35-46. google scholar
  • Türkcan, A. U. 2006. “Some Remarks on Çatalhöyük Stamp Seals.” Pp. 175-85 in Changing Materialities atÇatalhöyük: Reports from the 1995-99Seasons, edited by I. Hodder. Cambridge: McDonald Institute. google scholar
  • Türkteki, Murat; Sarı, Deniz; Şahin Fatma; Türkteki, Sinem, Tuna, Yusuf. 2021. “Anadolu’da Bir İlk Tunç Çağı Kenti: Küllüoba, Genel Değerlendirme ve 2020 Yılı Çalışmaları An Early Bronze Age City in Anatolia: Küllüoba, General Evaluation and 2020 Season Work.” Lycus Journal June(3):105-28. google scholar
  • Türkteki, Sinem Üstün. 2020. “Early Bronze Age Sealing Tradition of Küllüoba Höyük in the Context of Anatolian Sealing Practice.” 7-29. google scholar
  • Umurtak, G. 2002. “Some Observations on a Lead Stamp Seal from the Bademağacı Excavations.” Anatolica 28:159-69. google scholar
  • Umurtak, G. 2010. “Questions Arising from a Bulla Found in the EBA II Settlement at Bademağacı.” Adalya 13:19-27. google scholar
  • Umurtak, G. 2013. “Some Comments on a Few Intriguing Seals Found in the EBA Settlements at Hacılar Büyük Höyükand a Seal from Burdur Museum.” Adalya XVI:49-59. google scholar
  • Umurtak, G. ,. 2009. “A Study of Three Numerical (!) Tablets and a Stamp Seal from the Early Bronze Age Settlement at Bademağacı Höyük.” Adalya XII:1-10. google scholar
  • Umurtak, G., and R. Duru. 2014. “Hacılar Büyük Höyük Kazıları 2013.” Arkeoloji ve Sanat 145:1-20. google scholar
  • Ünan, Nazan, and Serdar Ünan. 2022. “Seyitömer Höyük Erken Tunç Çağı III (D Evresi Yerleşimi Üzerine Bir Ön Değerlendirme.” Pp. 49-324 in Seyitmer Höyük Kurtarma Kazısı 1989-2021, edited by S. Ünan. Bilgin Kültür Sanat Yayıncılık. google scholar
  • Ünar, Aslı. 2020. “ Orta Anadolu’da Erken Tunç Çağı’nda Tahıl Depolamanın Işığında Ekonomik ve Siyasi Örgütlenme.” Ege Üniversitesi. google scholar
  • von der Osten, H. 1937. The Alishar Hüyük: Seasons of 1930-32. In Oriental Institute Publications (Vol. 1, Issue 28). Chicago University Press. google scholar
  • Wengrow, D. 2011. “‘Archival’ and ‘Sacrificial’ Economies in Bronze Age Eurasia: An Interactionist Approach to the Hoarding of Metals.” Pp. 135-44 in Interweaving Worlds: systemic interactions in Eurasia, 7th to the 1st millennia BC, edited by T. C. Wilkinson, S. Sherratt, and J. Bennet. Oxford: Oxbow. google scholar
  • Yalçın, Ü., G. Yalçın, A. Maass, and Ö. İpek. 2015. “Prahistorischer Kupferbergbau in Derekutuğun.” Pp. 147-84 in Anatolien - Brücke der Kulturen. Aktuelle Forschungen und Perspektiven in den deutsch-türkischen Altertumswissenschaften, edited by Ü. Yalçın and H.-D. Bienert. Bochum: Bergbau-Museum. google scholar
  • Yener, A. K. n.d. Göltepe Excavations. An Early Bronze Age Mining Town: The Production of Tin in the Central Taurus Mountains, Turkey. Volume 1, Parts 1 and 2, Volume 2. Phıladelphıa: Institute for Aegean Archaeology Press. google scholar
  • Zimmermann, T. 2009. “Frühmetallzeitliche Eliten Zwischen Ostagais Und Taurusgebirge Im 3. Jahrtausend v. Chr. -Versuch Einer Kritischen Bestandsaufnahme.” Pp. 1-30 in Aufstieg und Untergang: Zwischenbilanz des Forschungsschwerpunktes , edited by M. Egg and M. Quast. Mainz: Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum . google scholar
  • Zimmermann, T. 2016. “Early Bronze Age Elites: A Fresh Look at Some Old and New Evidencefrom West and Central Anatolia.” Pp. 277-90 in Early Bronze Age Troy:Chronology, CulturalDevelopment andInterregional Contacts: Proceedings of an International Conference held at the University of Tübingen May 8-10, 2009, edited by E. Pernicka, S. Ünlüsoy, and S. Blum. Bonn: Dr. Rudolph Habelt GMBH. google scholar