Kuruçay Höyük (Burdur Lakes District)
Kuruçay Höyük · Kuruçay · Burdur Kuruçay
Late Neolithic through Early Bronze III (6200–2300 BCE)·Burdur Lakes Late Neolithic → Early Chalcolithic → EBA (Kuruçay)·🇹🇷 Burdur Province, Burdur District, Burdur Lake plain, Turkey
About
About Kuruçay Höyük (Burdur Lakes District)
Kuruçay Höyük (Burdur Lakes District) is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Burdur Province, Burdur District, Burdur Lake plain, Turkey — Lakes District type-site for Early Bronze fortified village with megaron houses Excavated evidence reveals Burdur Lakes Late Neolithic → Early Chalcolithic → EBA (Kuruçay) cultural horizons with mudbrick architecture. The mound 150×120 m, 8 m high; level 6 fortified village 80 m diameter preserves stone-socle mudbrick, level 6 casemate-like enclosure, lime-plastered megaron technique. Position on Burdur Province illustrates defines lakes district early bronze sequence — 13 levels from neolithic to eb iii with megaron plan.
Why it mattersDefines Lakes District Early Bronze sequence — 13 levels from Neolithic to EB III with megaron plan.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01EB III destruction — earthquake vs. invasion?
- 02Lake Burdur level vs. settlement synchrony?
Theories
- 01Duru indigenous Lakes vs. Aegean-derived EBA model
- 02Megaron diffusion Anatolian vs. Helladic debate
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.6200 BCE Late Neolithic; EBA I–II peak 2700 BCE; EB III destruction 2300 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic through Early Bronze III (6200–2300 BCE)
- Culture
- Burdur Lakes Late Neolithic → Early Chalcolithic → EBA (Kuruçay)
- Builders
- Burdur Lakes agro-pastoral communities
- Purpose
- Lakes District type-site for Early Bronze fortified village with megaron houses
- Abandoned
- c.2300 BCE EB III conflagration; ephemeral MBA squatter
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1978–1988 Duru (Istanbul Univ)
- Excavation
- Excavated
1978
Duru opens Kuruçay trench, 13 levels identified
1988
Level 6 fortified village and megaron houses published
2002
EB III destruction and C14 sequence refines Anatolian EBA
On the ground
Structures & features
37.7300° N · 30.1319° E · 940 m · 3 mapped features
Level 6 EBA Fortified Village (Megaron Houses)
settlementEBA Level 6 fortified village with megaron plans
37.7302° N · 30.1321° ELate Neolithic–Chalcolithic Deep Sounding
soundingLate Neolithic deep levels with painted wares
37.7298° N · 30.1318° EEB III Conflagration Destruction Horizon
destructionEB III burnt destruction with sealed pottery
37.7302° N · 30.1320° E