Tilmen Höyük

Tilmen Höyük is an important archaeological settlement located approximately 10 kilometers east of Gaziantep province’s İslahiye district and 2 kilometers west of Yelliburun village. Situated in the center of a rugged plain surrounded by volcanic basalt veins and hillocks, the mound consists of an oval-shaped hill 21 meters high, 220 meters long and 150 meters wide, with a 160-meter-long spur extending toward the west. The settlement area is enclosed by water channels formed by the tributaries of the Karasu River.

Tilmen Höyük was identified during the İslahiye Region Surface Survey conducted in 1958 under the leadership of Professor Dr. Uluğ Bahadır Alkım. In 1959, excavations were initiated through a collaboration between the Turkish Historical Society, the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University, and the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums. These efforts were carried out by a team including Refik Duru and Handan Alkım and continued uninterrupted until 1964. Excavations resumed in 1969 and were completed in 1972.

In 2002, under the direction of Professor Dr. Refik Duru, the “Tilmen Höyük Restoration and Environmental Planning Project” was implemented. Subsequently, in 2003, a Turkish-Italian team led by Nicolò Marchetti continued the excavations. These latest phases of excavation also included the planning of the site as an archaeological park and its integration with the local community.

^{An Artifact Found at Tilmen Höyük (}Culture Portal⁾

Tilmen Höyük is a multi-layered mound with continuous settlement phases extending from the Late Chalcolithic period to the Byzantine era. Excavations have revealed that the mound was influenced by multiple cultures throughout its history, with their settlement layers clearly discernible.

The earliest settlement at Tilmen Höyük was uncovered in the IV d architectural layer. Remains from this period were identified through deep soundings conducted among palace ruins on the mound’s summit. At a depth of approximately 19.5 meters, traces of mudbrick walls and floor surfaces were found. This initial settlement phase is believed to have been established by a small community around 3400 BCE. The settlement ended with a destruction layer following prolonged use.

The Early Bronze Age settlements were built directly atop the Late Chalcolithic layers and consist of nine distinct strata within the III j–c architectural layers. The architecture of this period is characterized by small stone-walled round-plan storage and silo structures. Three burials have also been identified from this phase: one chamber tomb and two box tombs. Different wall construction techniques are visible across these layers; early phases feature rough stone foundations while later phases show more refined stonework.

The most brilliant and monumental phase of Tilmen Höyük belongs to the Middle Bronze Age. This period is represented by the III b–a and II c–a architectural layers. During this time, the settlement evolved into a planned city enclosed by both inner and outer walls. Palace complexes, temples, and administrative buildings were located on the mound’s summit, while residential areas occupied the outer sections.

The city was protected by strong stone walls constructed using dry-stone technique with large basalt blocks, reinforced at intervals by towers. The most striking monumental finds of this period are the basalt “gate lions” located in front of the eastern gate.

Architecturally, Tilmen maintained intensive connections with the Ancient Hittite Kingdom and Northern Syrian cultures during this era. Layers II c and II b represent the majority of architectural remains visible on the surface today. It is believed that Tilmen became a royal center during this time and that its palace complex was likely destroyed during the Syrian campaigns of King Hattusili I.

After the destruction of the Middle Bronze Age settlement, reoccupation began at the mound, represented by the I a and I b architectural layers. These layers contain simple houses with stone foundations and mudbrick superstructures. The ceramic finds correspond to pottery types associated with the Late Hittite culture. Additionally, some metal artifacts (arrowheads, needles) indicate that the settlement retained a partial military character during this period.

Tilmen Höyük was not entirely abandoned in subsequent centuries. On the uppermost layers of the mound, ceramic fragments, stone foundation remains, and minor architectural traces dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods have been found. These discoveries suggest that the mound was used intermittently in later periods as an agricultural or rural settlement.

Tilmen Höyük is one of the best-preserved urban centers in Anatolian archaeology, particularly for its architecture from the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1500 BCE). Excavations have demonstrated that during this period the site functioned as a planned city enclosed by inner and outer walls, exhibiting a sophisticated urban organization.

The Middle Bronze Age settlement consisted of two main sections:

• Inner City: Located on the 15,000 m² plateau at the mound’s summit, this area was surrounded by powerful wall systems and housed monumental structures, palaces, and administrative buildings.
• Outer City: The area surrounding the inner city and comprising the remainder of the settlement. Enclosed by an outer wall approximately 900 meters in length, it contained residential quarters, workshops, and storage structures.

The inner and outer walls were planned parallel to each other, serving simultaneously as defensive, transportation, and urban boundary systems.

One of the most striking architectural features of Tilmen Höyük is its multi-layered and planned defense system.

• The walls were constructed using large basalt blocks in dry-stone technique.
• The foundations reach heights of 3–4 meters, and the walls, 1–1.5 meters thick, are reinforced at intervals by towers.
• The corner stones of the wall blocks were carefully shaped and cut at 90° angles; this feature indicates a higher level of engineering than contemporary settlements (e.g., Alalah, Hattuşa).

The inner city wall, approximately 500 meters long, protected the palace area. The outer city wall enclosed a broader area. Both walls share similar construction techniques and are believed to have been planned during the same period.

The forts and towers uncovered during excavations represent advanced examples of defensive architecture:

• H Fort: Located at the southeast corner of the mound, with wall thickness reaching 3 meters and height reaching 4.5 meters.
• P and P2 Forts: Situated in the northwestern sector; Fort P has a two-room plan, while Fort P2 consists of a single square room accessible via a two-step staircase.

These structures form part of a tower-fort complex strategically positioned to complete the city’s defense system.

Three main gates providing access to the city have been identified:

• Eastern Gate (K-1): The main entrance to the city. A second gate, K-6, was later constructed to its east. On either side of this gate stand basalt statues with lion protomes, emphasizing Tilmen’s monumental character.
• Northern Gate (K-2): A small, finely crafted passage built of cut stone. A transitional chamber exists between the inner and outer thresholds.
• Western Gate (K-3): A secondary gate accessed via a four-step staircase leading to a side block.

These gates controlled access to the city and also fulfilled ceremonial functions.

At the highest elevation of Tilmen Höyük, the palace complex dating to the second layer of the Middle Bronze Age is located. Access to this terrace is via the K-5 gate, reached by a 17-step staircase.

• Structure A: Measures 21 x 36 meters. Its lower walls are built of large stones, while the upper sections are constructed of mudbrick and covered with basalt orthostats.
• First and Second Palace Phases: Composed of four independent structures built in different phases. Their plans are rectangular, featuring large courtyards and storage areas.

These palaces served as the administrative center of the settlement. The presence of nearby temples and public buildings further underscores the site’s administrative significance.

In the inner city, houses, storage units, workshops, and administrative buildings were arranged in an orderly fashion. Structures feature stone foundations and mudbrick walls. Compacted clay floors and plaster traces on walls are evident. This planning demonstrates that Tilmen was not only a fortified center but also a highly developed urban center in terms of urbanization.

Tilmen Höyük functioned as a political and cultural center in the Gaziantep region during the Middle Bronze Age. The discovered “gate lion” statues, wall systems, and palace structures provide fundamental data for understanding the region’s architecture prior to Hittite.

During the 2000s, environmental planning transformed the site into the Tilmen Höyük Archaeological Park. Walking paths and information panels were added following the principle of minimal intervention. This initiative has preserved the mound while making it accessible and comprehensible to visitors.