Stamp seals from the early levels at Pirot Höyük

Abstract

Pirot Hoyuk was excavated during I978-I985 as a part of the Lower Euphrates (Aeban-Karakaya Dam Reservoir Basin) salvage excavation project. Work at the site consisted of seven seasons and was conducted by a team directed by Ozgen Karaca. Five stamp seals were found in the early levels of Pirot Hoyuk (Level X, XII, XIII and XV.). One of the seals is made of bone and the other four are made of stone, perhaps hematite or steatite. Seals with similar shape and decoration found in the Elazig-Malatya region (Arslantepe, Tepecik, Degirmentepe and Norsuntepe), and farther southwest, in the Amuq Plain (Tell esh Sheikh), provide important evidence with which to date the early stamp seals of Pirot Hoyuk.