An Evaluation of a Hellenistic Period Tumulus and its Finds from Central Anatolia

This study evaluates a Hellenistic period tumulus in Bahadın town, Sorgun district, Yozgat province, and the artefacts found within it. Among the 290 tumuli identified in Yozgat Province, only the Zeynel Höyüğü Tumulus has been excavated by museum specialists, and the findings have been presented in reports and inventory studies. Excavations in this region, which has been inhabited since the Prehistoric periods, reveal a rich archaeological history and cultural diversity. The tumulus, 30 meters in diameter and 5 meters high, provides significant data about the region's history. The findings suggest that the tumulus dates to the Hellenistic period and contains artefacts that could make valuable contributions to the history of Yozgat and its surroundings. Furthermore, comparing these tumuli with other archaeological sites in the region offers a broader understanding of the Hellenistic period and the funerary traditions of Central Anatolia. The Zeynel Höyüğü Tumulus is also remarkable for its architectural features; the grave was carved into the bedrock and supported with mudbrick. Excavations uncovered artefacts such as a lagynos, kantharos, gold leaf, hairpins, metal wire, and an oxidized copper bowl, along with valuable finds like gold earrings, glass beads, bronze mirrors, copper ring fragments, and silver coins.