Denizli in Old Age (Çal, Çivril and Baklan regions)

This study aims to examine the prehistoric and historical settlements in the regions of Çal, Çivril, and Baklan, located in the inland areas of Western Anatolia and forming part of the Upper Menderes Basin, through archaeological and geoarchaeological data. In the first part of the research, prehistoric settlements are analyzed in detail; particularly archaeological sites such as Ekşi Höyük (Çal), Beycesultan Mound (Çivril), and Çalkebir Mound (Baklan) are evaluated based on excavation findings, architectural remains, stratigraphic and environmental data. In the subsequent sections of the study, the social, political, and cultural events that occurred in these regions during historical periods are examined in light of written sources. Ekşi Höyük is a settlement that demonstrates a continuous occupation process starting from the Neolithic Period and functions as both a residential area and a necropolis. Similarly, Beycesultan Mound stands out with its rich cultural layers, especially from the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages, while the ceramic findings bearing Mycenaean and Minoan influences indicate the basin's interaction with the outside world. The Baklan Plain, with its alluvial soils, proximity to wetlands, and a location that allows control over natural passageways, offered an attractive living environment for prehistoric communities. The positioning of settlements on slight elevations suggests an intention to protect against environmental threats; meanwhile, the pottery and stone tool findings point to a long-term occupation of the region from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. In addition, the presence of signs resembling Luwian hieroglyphic script on the ceramics unearthed at Beycesultan Mound has led to the suggestion that this site may have been the capital of the Kingdom of Mira, one of the Luwian-origin Arzawa principalities. This indicates that the region continued to be inhabited from the 2nd millennium BCE onward and that political and social events became increasingly prominent during this period. In the second part of the study, the historical transformation of the Upper Menderes Basin is discussed, and the cultural and political changes the region underwent during the Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, starting from the 2nd millennium BCE, are evaluated. During these periods, the regions of Çal, Çivril, and Baklan became significant not only on a local but also on a regional scale, due to their agricultural production potential, strategic positions along key transportation routes, and religious structures. The geopolitical location of Çal, Çivril, and Baklan, along with their fertile lands and placement on major transit routes, made them important settlement centers throughout history. Written sources, surface surveys, and archaeological excavation findings reveal that these regions functioned not only as centers of agricultural production but also as religious, commercial, and military hubs. This study demonstrates that the Upper Menderes Basin presents a rich and holistic archaeological panorama in terms of cultural continuity, geographical strategy, and environmental adaptation throughout prehistoric and historical periods. It also emphasizes that the insufficient research conducted in the region represents a significant gap in the archaeological literature. Keywords: Ancient Denizli basin, Çal, Çivril, and Baklan regions, archaeological findings, prehistoric period, historical period.