Gavurtepe-Alașehir

Number: 36
Latitude, longitude: 38.339100, 28.520033

The settlement is located on the southwest side of the district city Alaşehir in the Manisa province. It was investigated and excavated from 1987 to 1991 by Recep Meriç. Habitation began during the Early Bronze Age. During the Late Bronze Age the mound was surrounded by a fortification wall. Excavations of the wall on the south and west side of the settlement brought to light Cyclopean masonry. The excavator interpreted two orthostats on the west side to have formed the main entrance to the settlement – arguing against Rudolf Naumann who said he had not seen orthostats in architecture of the 3rd and 2nd mill. BCE in western Asia Minor. A megaron was excavated at the highest point of the settlement mound. The 30 m long and 12 m wide building also consisted of Cyclopean walls are about 2 m thick. Recep Meriç dated the megaron based on ceramics to the middle of the 2nd mill. BCE or a little later. Machteld J. Mellink argued that it was erected in the 15th cent. BCE and that it burned down towards the end of the Bronze Age. The ceramics are for the most part indigenous, as indicated by unglazed and black glazed spouted pitchers. Some Mycenaean pottery was also found