A lead figurine from Toprakhisar Höyük: magico-ritual objects in the Syro-Anatolian Middle Bronze Age

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Akar M., KARA D.

Anatolian Studies, cilt.72, ss.17-36, 2022 (AHCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 72
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1017/s0066154622000023
  • Dergi Adı: Anatolian Studies
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, L'Année philologique, Anthropological Literature, Art Source, Index Islamicus, Linguistic Bibliography, MLA - Modern Language Association Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.17-36
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This article examines supra-regional trends in magico-ritual objects through a mould-made lead figurine in the form of a foundation peg found in a disturbed Early Bronze IVB to Middle Bronze I transitional deposit at Toprakhisar Hoyuk (Altlnozu, Hatay). The stylised object is interpreted as a bull standing atop a peg, pointing to the adoption of hybrid Syro-Anatolian and Mesopotamian technological, iconographic and apotropaic values. It is suggested the object is ritual paraphernalia, likely in relation to the cult of the Storm God, used in a foundation ritual. Together with this peculiar metal product, the presence of other magico-ritual objects that point to northern Mesopotamian connections at the small hinterland site of Toprakhisar Hoyuk, on the outskirts of the Amuq valley, is considered to be a possible material reflection of new groups in the region, including Hurrians and Amorites, which contributed to the unity and regionality of the cults and rituals of Syro-Anatolian communities of the Middle Bronze Age.