Güzelova Höyük (Karasu Valley Mound)
Güzelova Höyük · Güzelova · Karasu Güzelova
Neolithic through Middle Bronze (5800–1500 BCE)·Erzurum Neolithic → Chalcolithic Karasau → EBA Kura-Araxes (Karaz)·🇹🇷 Erzurum Province, Aşkale District, Karasu (Euphrates) valley, Turkey
About
About Güzelova Höyük (Karasu Valley Mound)
Güzelova Höyük (Karasu Valley Mound) is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Erzurum Province, Aşkale District, Karasu (Euphrates) valley, Turkey — Karasu/Euphrates headwater village documenting Neolithic to Karaz transition at altitude Excavated evidence reveals Erzurum Neolithic → Chalcolithic Karasau → EBA Kura-Araxes (Karaz) cultural horizons with stone architecture. The mound 80×70 m, 5 m high; neolithic houses 5×4 m preserves stone-footed pisé, lime-plastered floors, karaz black-burnished incised ware technique. Position on Erzurum Province illustrates documents karasu headwater neolithic–chalcolithic at high altitude — karaz type-variant.
Why it mattersDocuments Karasu headwater Neolithic–Chalcolithic at high altitude — Karaz type-variant.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01High altitude Neolithic winter habitability?
- 02Karaz incised ware — local or Caucasian import style?
Theories
- 01Kökten high plateau Neolithic autonomy vs. Levantine diffusion
- 02Karasu pastoral transhumance model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.5800 BCE Neolithic; Chalcolithic 4500 BCE; EBA II 2800 BCE; MBA Karaz 2000 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic through Middle Bronze (5800–1500 BCE)
- Culture
- Erzurum Neolithic → Chalcolithic Karasau → EBA Kura-Araxes (Karaz)
- Builders
- Karasu valley agropastoralists, Karaz culture potters
- Purpose
- Karasu/Euphrates headwater village documenting Neolithic to Karaz transition at altitude
- Abandoned
- c.1500 BCE MBA hiatus
- Rediscovered
- Surveyed 1950s Kökten, sounded 1975 Pekelli (Erzurum Museum), 2010–present Işıklı
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1975
Pekelli sounding reveals Neolithic plastered floors
2012
Karaz black-burnished horizon C14 dated to 2800 BCE
2021
Palaeobotany confirms naked barley at 5800 BCE
On the ground
Structures & features
39.9322° N · 40.7894° E · 1680 m · 3 mapped features
Neolithic Lime-Plastered House Horizon
houseNeolithic pisé houses with plastered floors
39.9324° N · 40.7896° EKura-Araxes (Karaz) Black-Burnished Layer
ceramic horizonEBA Karaz incised black-burnished ceramics
39.9320° N · 40.7893° EChalcolithic Pit and Storage Complex
pitChalcolithic storage pits and ovens
39.9323° N · 40.7895° E