An archaeological evaluation of Late Bronze Age metal finds from Beycesultan Höyük

This MA thesis examines the typological classification and interregional comparative analysis of 72 metal artifacts dating to the Late Bronze Age, discovered during the post-2015 excavations at Beycesultan. The study is based on comparative material from contemporary Anatolian settlements. Beycesultan, located in Çivril (Denizli), occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of cultural and commercial interactions connecting Western Anatolia with Central, Southern, and Inland Western Anatolia, as well as the Black Sea region, throughout the Bronze Ages. The site was first excavated between 1954 and 1959 by British archaeologists James Mellaart and Seton Lloyd, and since 2007, a new phase of excavations has been directed by Eşref Abay. The Late Bronze Age metal artifacts, classified and analyzed through typological and archaeological methodologies, have been examined in terms of their production techniques and evaluated from a socio-cultural perspective regarding their uses and probsble social functions. Furthermore, the nature of Late Bronze Age metalworking at Beycesultan has been assessed in comparison with contemporary sites, within the framework of Anatolian regions. The introductory chapters of the thesis discuss in detail the geographical setting, stratigraphy, and historical development of the settlement mound, emphasizing the significance of the Late Bronze Age metal assemblage within the broader context of the site. This study aims to illuminate the local and regional economic structures of Beycesultan, offering valuable insights into the production organization and cultural dynamics of Late Bronze Age societies. By evaluating the metal artifacts not only typologically but also within their social and cultural contexts, the research aspires to contribute meaningfully to the archaeological understanding of the region.