SITE CONTENT

ARCHITECTURE

Pre-Pottery Neolithic cultural structure of mound generally reflects important differences especially in terms of small finds with showing parallelism with contemporary centers famous in region extend. All data agree on the matter that Körtik Tepe is a center which is permanently settled by people. This fact brings up fact that how shelter problem is solved. Especially data gained in excavation studies between 2005-2009, brought about important approaches to dimensions of architectural construction in mound. In excavation still in progress at least six separate architectural layer have been detected. Designs of layers that characterize mentioned layers include shared features that are all round planned houses having earth grounded base surrounded by unworked stones in single file, are protected up to specific height in some units; structural integrity is damaged in majority of them because of constructions on upper layers.

It is possible to gather Körtik Tepe structures in three main groups. First group is composed of round planned structures, plans of them are received exactly and totally 77 of them are found. Though there is not any accurate proofs related to upper structures, it can be said stone files that are constructed to specific altitude are in the aim of firming walls constructed from vegetable material such as plastered reed. When we left these details aside mentioned houses that enable a few people in number to take shelter in terms of their dimensions, in some cases detected to each other, are described under name of round planned structures. Though it is not reached an accurate judgment about integral, with a general evaluation, this round planned, flat or hollow based, single placed housing type which characterize the earliest location area of Pre-Pottery Neolithic period and constructed directly on earth basis are observed in Pre-Pottery Neolithic centers of Near East such as Hallan Çemi, Göbekli Tepe, Tell Abr, Jefr el Ahmar, Seyh Hassan, Mureybet, Qermez Dere and Nemrik with Körtik Tepe.

Second group is composed of construction models that have not adequate dimension for individual living. Sizes of these houses that are found in almost all construction levels in excavation areas and have round plan, vary between 1.10–2.10 m. Except from ruined and disjoined ones, mentioned housings basses furnished with pebbles that 34 describable sample of them are detected. With their size that do not meet vital necessities, mentioned structures must have service as storing units according to their kindred in Hallan Çemi, also determination of intense vegetable remnants in these structures makes up another proof about their functions in this term.

Third group structures that only four sample (Y3, Y11, Y44, Y35) of it found in continuing excavations offer different characters with findings detected in their sizes and bases together with their numeral rates. Data are not sufficient to explain functions of these structures that differ from others with their size and have numeral minority. When their depth are considered, if it is not detected in whole, detection of even one piece sample at least in architectural levels make us think that it is necessary to impose special meanings to mentioned structures. This fact reminds public structures their existence detected in Hallan Çemi.

When number and type of protected structures are taken as basic, it is seen Körtik Tepe localizations solve shelter problems. Solution in this term found in round planned structures. This simple plan practice which supplies ease in cover problem, guides to localizations where is placed as lasting and permanent in earliest periods of transition into settled form and Near East and Anatolia witnesses first steps in this matter. These settlings which are settled in areas that have opportunity responding nourishment necessities of people without changing place, far from general observations, shows that settled life types had been occurred in communities before agriculture. Körtik Tepe is one of the centers in which this factor and development perceived as archeological.