Project Title: Archaeological Survey of Tokat Province, Central, Zile, Turhal, and Almus Districts
Project Number: YA016005 (2022)
Research Team: Ast. Prof. Dr. Şengül Dilek FUL - Ast. Prof. Dr. Murat Tekın - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Uyanik - Prof. Dr. Davut YİĞİTPAŞA - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aygün KALINBAYRAK ERCAN - Prof. Dr. Tekin SUSAM - Ast. Prof. Dr. Kemal ERSAYIN
With the Archaeological Surface Survey project in Tokat Center, Zile, Turhal and Almus districts, it is aimed to reveal the ancient fabric of the region by carrying out the identification, inventory and scientific evaluation of the ancient cultural assets in Tokat Center, Zile, Turhal and Almus districts. For this purpose, as a result of the studies that started in Zile in 2022, 2 rock tombs, 2 tumuli, 2 castles, 1 open-air sacred area, 2 necropolis areas, 1 ancient water channel and 2 graffiti dating to ancient age were identified and recorded. In addition, examinations were also made in the remains of 2 registered tumuli, 1 open-air sacred area and 1 ancient water channel and 1 castle that is not registered but known from previous publications. Studies in 2023 continued in Zile and Turhal districts. As a result of the studies carried out, 1 castle, 1 watchtower, 1 sacred area, 1 necropolis area and a hillside settlement were unearthed in Turhal district; In the Zile district, 1 hilltop settlement, 1 mound, and 1 castle were identified. During the ongoing work in Zile in 2024, examinations were carried out in 3 castles, 4 mounds, 2 hilltop settlements, 5 flat settlements, 1 watchtower, 1 hillside settlement, 4 tumuli, 4 rock tombs, 1 ancient water canal, 1 sacred area, and 1 workshop (?). In addition to these centers, cultural assets dating to ancient times such as pressed balance stones, column fragments, column capitals, and inscribed block stones, which were either used as re-used material in the walls of village houses or were lying idle, were encountered in Zile and Turhal. The 2025 work was carried out in Tokat city center, Turhal, and Almus districts. In studies conducted at these centers, three sacred sites, one mound, one hillside settlement, two rock tombs, three necropolises, one castle, and one watchtower were examined in Almus; one castle, six rock tombs, four tumuli, and one mound settlement were examined in the center of Tokat. In Turhal, drone footage was taken of an Ancient Greek inscription previously discovered in a castle. Based on all this data and our previous studies (2013-2019), it is possible to conclude that the Turhal and Zile districts were important settlement centers in antiquity.
This project aims to address the historical development of the region through a holistic approach by identifying the settlement areas, sacred sites, and tomb typologies that constitute the cultural heritage of Tokat and its surroundings, extending from antiquity to the present day. As a result of this study, a cultural inventory of Tokat will be prepared, enabling the scientific documentation of the city's archaeological and cultural heritage.
