Tille Höyük
Tille Hoyuk · Tell Tille
EB → MBA → LBA → Iron Age → Hellenistic (3000–100 BCE)·Euphratean → Hittite → Neo-Hittite/Assyrian·🇹🇷 Adıyaman Province, Kahta District, Atatürk Reservoir Euphrates, Turkey
About
About Tille Höyük
Tille Höyük is a stratified Euphrates tell on the Middle Euphrates now island in Atatürk Reservoir — EB–Iron Age sequence excavated 1978–1990 by David French (BIAA) as Atatürk Dam salvage. LB Hittite levels with Late Bronze ceramics, Iron Age Neo-Hittite/Assyrian fort with timber-laced walls, and Hellenistic reoccupation. 18 m high mound with 8 m Iron Age rampart documenting Euphrates border oscillation between Hittite, Assyrian and Commagenian control.
Why it mattersReference for Euphrates Hittite-Assyrian frontier and Commagene transition — reservoir island preservation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Tille Malatya or Commagene dependency in Iron Age?
- 02Hittite ceramics local vs imported?
Theories
- 01French Euphrates frontier model vs Summers Commagene continuity
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.3000 BCE EBA founding; LB Hittite 1500 BCE; Iron Age fort 900 BCE
- Period
- EB → MBA → LBA → Iron Age → Hellenistic (3000–100 BCE)
- Culture
- Euphratean → Hittite → Neo-Hittite/Assyrian
- Builders
- Euphrates communities, Hittite and Assyrian garrisons
- Purpose
- Euphrates crossing fort and Commagene border post
- Abandoned
- c.100 BCE Hellenistic shift to Samosata
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1978–1990 French BIAA Atatürk salvage
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.3000
Initial founding
2015
Synthesis publication for Tille Höyük
On the ground
Structures & features
37.7800° N · 38.7200° E · 520 m · 3 mapped features
Iron Age rampart
fortificationNeo-Hittite-Assyrian timber-laced rampart
37.7815° N · 38.7210° EHittite LB houses
settlementLate Bronze Hittite rectilinear houses
37.7788° N · 38.7192° ELower terrace harbour
harbourEuphrates harbour silted now reservoir
37.7808° N · 38.7185° E