Underground structures from Istanbul Çatalca/Maltepe. Ayd?ngün ?engül G., E?ilmez Ali Hakan, Ayd?ngün Haldun, Gürbüz ?lker,Gürbüz Gülhun, Albukrek Metin, Küçükali Gül?en, Kuruçay?rl? Emre, Erdem Bülent
UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES FROM ?STANBUL ÇATALCA/MALTEPE
?engül G. Ayd?ngün, Ali Hakan E?ilmez, ?lker Gürbüz(*), Gülhun Gürbüz(*), Metin Albukrek(*), Gül?en Küçükali(*), Bülent Erdem(*)
Asst. Prof. Kocaeli University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Archeology
Arkeolog, Lecturer in Istanbul Technical University, member of ASPEG (Anatolian Speleological Society)
(*)member of ASPEG (Anatolian Speleological Society)
Formed by international scientists, Istanbul Prehistoric Research Project, has been started in order to fill in the gaps of Istanbul prehistoric chronology and to collect evidences covering Early Bronze and Iron Ages.
During the studies, two artificial underground structures were discovered and mapped near Maltepe Necropolis, Incegiz, Catalca, a province of Istanbul about 50 km west of the historical center of the megacity.
The first one was named as “Trak Kult Cave”, a 9.7 meter deep and 6.5 wide rectangular well, carved into massive stone. Unfortunatelly, illegal diggins done before removed some of the findings to the outsite of the cave. Poetries, some moulds, iron slags were found around and in the cave. These finds were dated back to Late Bronze- Early Iron Age.
The second discovered and mapped structure was named as “Two Chamber Byzantian Cistern”.
This structure consists of two 8 meter deep wells, interconnected with each with a large chamber at the bottom. Another bigger chamber extends horizontally from the first well. These two chambers were coated with plaster dating to Early Byzantian age.
Findings in these structures gave new archeological insights dating from the Bronze Age to the Iron Ages. The discoveries shows that the Bronze Age cultures of the Balkans reached right to the mountainous and forested zones in the west of Istanbul.
Correspondance Mail adresses:
metin.albukrek@unilever.com
malbukrek@gmail.com