The Typology of Early Iron Age Settlements of Turkish Thrace
The Typology of Early Iron Age Settlements of Turkish Thrace

Summary/Abstract: This study, based on the surveys conducted for the author's PhD thesis, provides data and suggestions on the geographical distribution of the Early Iron Age settlements in Turkish Thrace, which constitutes a significant part of Eastern Thrace. The area from which the data were obtained consists of: the valleys fed by two major rivers, the Maritsa (Meriç) and Tundzha (Tunca) rivers in the province of Edirne, the valleys fed by the Süloğlu stream, the region north of the Saros Gulf, the Tozakli Valley and its immediate surroundings, near the Pinarhisar district of the Kırklareli province. This study area is an important data area for the region as it covers both the inner Eastern Thrace close to the Istranca Mountains and the coasts of the Saros Gulf in the South.During the surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023, the centres found in this region during previous surveys were revisited and examined, and new centres were identified.The observations made on the settlement typology largely coincide with the Early Iron Age data from other parts of Thrace. In addition to small and medium sized unfortified settlements situated in the valleys, fortress type settlements located at certain points of the valleys and built high above the river level were also identified. These two settlement types suggest that the village and hamlet-type lowland settlements established on the ridges close to the river beds along the valleys in the Early Iron Age may have been connected to the administrative centres in the fortress-type settlements established on high places.

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