10. Arkeometri Sonuçları Toplantısı - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

Between the first and the second bridge-a distance of abont 1300 mincluding windings- the river flows in a very narrow valley, which is confinedby continuous steep terrace scarps (Figs: 6,7).Terraces on both sides of the river are asymmetric in character. Onthe soutlıern side, there are three suıfaces bounded with three terrace.scarps, whi!e on the northern side, there are only two levels with two terracescarps. The upper most snıface on the southern bank is a gently slopingaccnmnlation glacis, foımed on the alluvial/colluvial material fromthe foothills of the Amanus Monntains. (Indicated with fignre "1", on thephoto) this level drops down to the upper terrace surface of the Pinarus,with a distinct teırace scarp. The eyebrow-like terrace scarp 1400 m inlength with a height of 2-3 m, is very c1istinct, as can be seen in Fig. 6.The width of the upper terrace ranges between 60-140 metres (indicatedwith Figure "2" on the photo). At the western part of the higher terracethere are eyebrow-like minor terrace scarps, which indicate a shift of theriver towards the north (Fig. 6). The npper terrace descends into the 10werterrace suıface with almost veıtical terrace scarps with a height of 3-5m (Fig.7). The lower terrace is seen as smail patches with a diameter of15x30 m scattered on both sides of the river and forms a step dow n to theactive river bottom with abont 1.5 m high terrace scarp". On the northernside of the river, there is onlyone more !evel on the lower terrace, with adistinct continuous vertical terrace scarp. On the whole, the southernbank of the river is distinctly higher than the northerne. As is clear fromthe above-mentioned morphological descriptions, this seetion of the valleyis similar to the second part of Callisthenes' description. Neither sidesof the valley in this seetion are suitable for cavalry charge.Obviously, the higher topography on the southern flank of the riverwas a big advantage to Alexander for the purpose of observation and defence.Because of this advantage, Alexander could have madesome manoeuvressecretly during the baule>.In spite of Alexander's clear advantages, derived from the terrain,many modem scholars claim that Darius was on much more ad-(21) In dur opinion, the lower tcrrace did nal cxist at the time ofthc baule.(22) The renson for the asynurıetry secms lo be the grndual shift of the rivcr towards its nonhemside.(23) "Before the baule Alexander secrctly moved the Thessalian cavalry from the right wing behindthefront to the lerı." (U. Wilckcn. Alexanderthe Greaı. 1967, p. 99)."He alsa dctached two squadrons of caıupaniorı cavalry and sent them to a pösition on theright which they wcreto rcach unobscrvcd by moviug behind other ıroops" (A. 2.9.3-4).164