A Different Perspective on The Dating of a Group of Tumuli in Thrace: Topkoru Tumuli

Umut Murat Doğan

Article Details

A Different Perspective on The Dating of a Group of Tumuli in Thrace: Topkoru Tumuli

Authors:

Umut Murat Doğan

Publisher:

Manisa Celal Bayar University

Main Topics:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Journal:

Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.110-126

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344034

pISSN:

1304-4796

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The Thrace Region is very rich in terms of tumulus grave practice. The region is also known to have tumulus type burials in the Early Iron Age. The Taşlıcabayır Tumulus excavated in the village of Asilbeyli in the central district of Kırklareli has long been regarded as a key centre for Early Iron Age research in Eastern Thrace. The recently discovered and rescued tumuli of Topkoru A, B and C on the foothills of Strandja Mountains were also evaluated within the chronological framework proposed for Taşlıcabayır. However, the recent researches in the Balkan region have changed many known data about the Early Iron Age cultural structure of the Thracian Region. In this study, the dating proposals for the Topkoru Tumuli will be discussed and in the light of the increasing archaeological data in other parts of Thrace, a new dating proposal will be presented based on the analogical comparison of the stonework used in one of these tumuli in the context of the development of both the ceramics found in the tumuli and the stone-architected city type throughout the region. In addition, the Late Bronze Age terminology used for the Topkoru Tumuli will be criticised in a chronological framework.

 The Thrace Region is very rich in terms of tumulus grave practice. The region is also known to have tumulus type burials in the Early Iron Age. The Taşlıcabayır Tumulus excavated in the village of Asilbeyli in the central district of Kırklareli has long been regarded as a key centre for Early Iron Age research in Eastern Thrace. The recently discovered and rescued tumuli of Topkoru A, B and C on the foothills of Strandja Mountains were also evaluated within the chronological framework proposed for Taşlıcabayır. However, the recent researches in the Balkan region have changed many known data about the Early Iron Age cultural structure of the Thracian Region. In this study, the dating proposals for the Topkoru Tumuli will be discussed and in the light of the increasing archaeological data in other parts of Thrace, a new dating proposal will be presented based on the analogical comparison of the stonework used in one of these tumuli in the context of the development of both the ceramics found in the tumuli and the stone-architected city type throughout the region. In addition, the Late Bronze Age terminology used for the Topkoru Tumuli will be criticised in a chronological framework.

 The Thrace Region is very rich in terms of tumulus grave practice. The region is also known to have tumulus type burials in the Early Iron Age. The Taşlıcabayır Tumulus excavated in the village of Asilbeyli in the central district of Kırklareli has long been regarded as a key centre for Early Iron Age research in Eastern Thrace. The recently discovered and rescued tumuli of Topkoru A, B and C on the foothills of Strandja Mountains were also evaluated within the chronological framework proposed for Taşlıcabayır. However, the recent researches in the Balkan region have changed many known data about the Early Iron Age cultural structure of the Thracian Region. In this study, the dating proposals for the Topkoru Tumuli will be discussed and in the light of the increasing archaeological data in other parts of Thrace, a new dating proposal will be presented based on the analogical comparison of the stonework used in one of these tumuli in the context of the development of both the ceramics found in the tumuli and the stone-architected city type throughout the region. In addition, the Late Bronze Age terminology used for the Topkoru Tumuli will be criticised in a chronological framework.

 Tümülüs mezar uygulaması açısından Trakya Bölgesi oldukça zengindir. Bölgede Erken Demir Çağında da tümülüs tipi gömüler olduğu bilinmektedir. Kırklareli merkez ilçeye bağlı Asilbeyli köyünde kazısı yapılan Taşlıcabayır Tümülüsü buluntuları itibariyle uzun yıllar Doğu Trakya Erken Demir Çağı araştırmaları için bir anahtar merkez olarak kabul edilmiştir. Yakın zaman önce Istranca Dağlarının eteklerinde tespit edilen ve kurtarma kazısı yapılan Topkoru A, B ve C tümülüsleri de Taşlıcabayır için önerilen kronolojik çerçeve içinde değerlendirilmiştir. Oysa Balkan coğrafyasında son yıllarda artan araştırmalar, Trakya Bölgesinin Erken Demir Çağı kültürel yapısı hakkında bilinen birçok veriyi değiştirmiştir. Bu çalışmada Topkoru Tümülüsleri için sunulan tarihlendirme önerileri ele alınacak ve Trakyanın diğer bölümlerinde artan arkeolojik veriler ışığında hem tümülüs buluntusu seramiklerin hem de bölge genelindeki taş mimarili kent tipinin gelişimi bağlamında bu tümülüslerden birinde kullanılan taş işçiliğinin analojik karşılaştırmaya dayalı yeni tarihlendirme önerisi sunulacaktır. Ayrıca Topkoru Tümülüsleri için kullanılan Geç Tunç Çağı terminolojisinin de kronolojik çerçevede eleştirisi yapılmaktadır.

Article Details

A Different Perspective on The Dating of a Group of Tumuli in Thrace: Topkoru Tumuli

Authors:

Umut Murat Doğan

Publisher:

Manisa Celal Bayar University

Main Topics:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Journal:

Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.110-126

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344034

pISSN:

1304-4796

Topkoru Tumuli

Taşlıcabayır Tumulus

Eastern Thrace

Early Iron AgeTopkoru Tümülüsleri

Taşlıcabayır Tümülüsü

Doğu Trakya

Erken Demir Çağı

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Umut Murat Doğan

Publisher: Manisa Celal Bayar University

Main Topics: Arkeoloji Bilimi

Journal: Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.110-126

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001344034

pISSN: 1304-4796

Issues

Authors:

Umut Murat Doğan

Publisher:

Manisa Celal Bayar University

Main Topics:

Arkeoloji Bilimi

Journal:

Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.23 Issue 1, pp.110-126

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001344034

pISSN:

1304-4796