A 3,500-Year-Old “Dining Set” Discovered at Konya Karahöyük

At Karahöyük, where excavations are ongoing in the Meram district of Konya, a jug, plate, and handled cup, considered to be approximately 3,500 years old, have been unearthed. 

The finds discovered at Karahöyük, where excavations are being carried out in Meram with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the support of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, have generated excitement both within the excavation team and in the scientific community. 

At the mound, where the excavations are led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gonca Dardeniz Arıkan, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Istanbul University Faculty of Letters, the unearthed artifacts shed light on life thousands of years ago. In the fourth year of the excavation, silver plaques belonging to a merchant, toys, figurines, and a set consisting of a jug, plate, and handled cup found in part of a house were brought to light.

THE MOUND DATES BACK TO AROUND 2000 BC

Excavation Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arıkan stated that Konya Karahöyük is one of the important centres for Anatolian and Near Eastern archaeology. Pointing out that the mound contains uninterrupted data extending back to the Old Hittite period, Arıkan said that “There are 10 mounds here. We are trying to understand and interpret all of them within their own context. We are in the southwest of the mound, and we also have work ongoing in the upper areas. The area we are currently standing in dates back to around 2000 BC. The uncovered area is a public building and stated that they are studying the construction materials and sections of the structure. 

“We Continue to Collect Information on Daily Life and Production” 

Drawing attention to the interesting finds obtained during this year’s excavation season, Arıkan stated that “Inside the public building, there are cremation burials and an altar related to the belief system. We continue to gather information on agricultural activities, daily life, and production. There is a 3,500-year-old clay bull figurine. A child is always a child; they also need something to play with and be occupied by. Wheeled or animal miniatures are toys. There is a goddess figurine made of lead, used like an amulet. From an area associated with eating and drinking, we found a kitchen set consisting of a jug, a clover-mouthed jug, and a plate together. It was found as a set. The restoration of the cup has been completed, while the restoration of the plate is ongoing. The artifacts are being prepared for exhibition in the museum. Sixty infant burials have been found at the mound.”

SILVER WRAPPED IN CLOTH FOUND AS A MERCHANT’S CAPITAL

Explaining that the mound is known to have been one of the most important trade centres of its period, Arıkan stated that “the discovery of silver plates wrapped in cloth was particularly exciting. The studies on the find are ongoing. It was likely a merchant’s capital. We know there were merchants, but for the first time we are touching the merchants more closely. This was Konya’s f irst chamber of commerce. Just as every merchant today has a tax number and a signature, the same existed 3,500 years ago. Their seals, seal impressions, and silver pieces like these can be found in this way. We also found a small piece with markings on it, which we can call a counting clay.”