Tilbes, Surtepe and Tilvez Mounds: An Approach about the Early Bronze Ia-Ib phases, north of Birecik-Carchemish subregion (Southeastern Turkey)

Abstract

The Early Bronze (EB) I culture in the Turkish Middle Euphrates is of particular importance to our Tilbes Project. Such an archaeological period was discovered in three of the archaeological sites under our supervision. We have been able to differentiate two different moments in the character of the occupation during this Early Bronze Age I, Phases Ia and Ib. The EB Ia phase is characterized by a large urbanization and extensive settlement of the places of Surtepe Höyük, Tilvez/Meteler Höyük and Tilbes Höyük. However, the EB Ib phase, which seems to have continued in at least two of the places, Surtepe and Tilbes Höyük, does not present large remains of monumental architecture and does show an increase in funerary remains in both places. Tilbes Höyük also had, during EB Ia-b, a building with ritual-religious characteristics, built in the same place that was later occupied by BA II and BA III sanctuaries in sector E4a-E8-E3. This area of Birecik is included in the ceramic province of the Late Reserved Slip Ware and indicates a change of orientation of Tilbes and Surtepe towards the Northern Levant, the region of the future kingdom of Ebla, as opposed to the route of the Euphrates, dominant during the Late Chalcolithic.