Oylum Höyük
Oylum Höyük · Oylum Hoyuk · Oylum mound · Kilis Oylum
Late Chalcolithic through Medieval; EBA III, MBA II, Hittite, Neo-Hittite, Assyrian·Syro-Anatolian; EBA Islahiye cluster → Hittite sphere → Neo-Hittite/Assyrian·🇹🇷 Kilis Province, Kilis District, Turkey
About
About Oylum Höyük
Largest tell in Kilis plain (460×370 m, 37 m high) with continuous Chalcolithic–Medieval stratigraphy: EBA III–MBA town with crescent fortification, cuneiform tablets (Old Babylonian), Hittite palace and Neo-Hittite levels excavated by Atilla Engin (Hacettepe) since 1988. MBA II kilns, Hittite sealings and Iron Age public building with cisterns buried under Byzantine farmstead. Lower town geophysics shows 30 ha buried extramural settlement. Type-site bridging Islahiye–Euphrates and Amuq cultural spheres.
Why it mattersLargest Kilis mound; Old Babylonian–Hittite transition with tablet finds; links Euphrates and Cilician cultural spheres.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Identity of MBA II polity — Yamhad vassal or independent?
- 02Extent of Hittite palace — archive under 37 m?
Theories
- 01Engin Euphrates–Mediterranean node model
- 02Yamhad–Aleppo sphere intrusion vs autochthonous Kilis sequence
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.3500 BCE Late Chalcolithic base; EBA III fortifications c.2500 BCE; MBA kingdom c.1800 BCE
- Period
- Late Chalcolithic through Medieval; EBA III, MBA II, Hittite, Neo-Hittite, Assyrian
- Culture
- Syro-Anatolian; EBA Islahiye cluster → Hittite sphere → Neo-Hittite/Assyrian
- Builders
- Syro-Anatolian; EBA Islahiye cluster → Hittite sphere → Neo-Hittite/Assyrian builders
- Purpose
- Fortified regional centre on Amanus piedmont controlling Killis–Aleppo road
- Abandoned
- 604 BCE Nebuchadnezzar campaign; Medieval reoccupation
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1988–present Atilla Engin (Hacettepe University) & Kilis Museum
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
2000
Initial work at Oylum Höyük
2015
Stratigraphy and geophysics synthesis for Oylum Höyük
On the ground
Structures & features
36.6978° N · 37.1806° E · 635 m · 3 mapped features
Citadel MBA palace
palaceOld Babylonian palace with tablets
36.6980° N · 37.1808° EHittite building
settlementHittite sealings and ashlar wall
36.6976° N · 37.1804° ELower town geophysics anomaly
geophysical anomalyUn_excavated 30 ha extramural town
36.6985° N · 37.1815° E