A new aceramic neolithic site nearby the obsidian sources: Preliminary insights from Sırçalıtepe Obsidiyen kaynaklarının yakınında yeni bir akeramik yerleşme: Sırçalıtepe’den İlk Gözlemler

© 2021 Istanbul Universitesi. All Rights Reserved.This paper is a general assessment of the studies conducted in 2019 and 2020 at the site of Sırçalıtepe. The settlement, which is dated to the 8th mill BCE, is located in the Volcanic Cappadocia region, within the borders of the Kayırlı village in the province of Niğde. With its location, it can be characterised as the nearest site to the Göllüdağ and Nenezi Dağ obsidian sources in the region. The excavations at Sırçalıtepe were carried out in two different areas of the mound. One trench is the slope trench with documented architectural remains and finds related to daily life, and the other trench is from the top of the mound where obsidian knapping debris is present in proportions commonly seen in workshop areas. The architectural remains discovered in the slope trench involve mudbrick walls, lime plastered floors, and large ovens. However, the investigated area from the top trench with abundant cores and knapping debris reveals the difference between Sırçalıtepe and other contemporaneous sites in the region. Thus, it can be argued that Sırçalıtepe, especially with its obsidian artefacts, has the potential for revealing the relationship between the workshop and the site. Portable XRF analyses performed on a group of obsidian artefacts showed that the settlement inhabitants used Göllüdağ, Nenezi Dağ, and Acıgöl obsidian sources

The Preliminary Report on the 2019-2020 Seasons of the Central Taurus Prehistoric Research Project (OTTA)

Des travaux de terrain ont été menés en 2019 et 2020, par le Central Taurus Prehistoric Research Project, dans les districts d’Erdemli, de Tarsus et de Çamlıyayla à Mersin. Le projet s’est fixé deux buts principaux : mieux connaître la chronologie régionale qui présente encore des lacunes importantes et comprendre le rôle tenu par le centre du Taurus et la Cilicie dans les relations culturelles interrégionales. Des campements éphémères, des grottes avec des niveaux d'occupation et des ateliers de taille de silex ont été découverts en nombre lors de ces deux premières saisons. Ces recherches ont permis de comprendre que la région était pour les communautés préhistoriques une zone d’occupation majeure depuis le Paléolithique. Dans cet article, nous décrivons les sites archéologiques identifiés et nous publions des données ethnobotaniques et une étude des chemins employés à travers les montagnes de Bolkar afin de mieux percevoir les zones de passage interrégionales au cours de la Préhistoire.Field work was carried out in 2019 and 2020 by the Central Taurus Prehistoric Research Project in the districts of Erdemli, Tarsus and Çamlıyayla of Mersin. The project aimed to fill the chronological gaps in the prehistoric chronology of the region, as well as to understand the role of Central Taurus and Cilicia in interregional cultural relations. The numerous temporary camps, caves with occupation debris and flint workshops revealed during the first two field seasons point out that the region was one of the preferred zones for the prehistoric communities since the Paleolithic periods. In addition to describing the archaeological sites identified, this article includes information about the ethnobotanical studies conducted as part of the project and a study of the routeways through the Bolkar Mountains in order to understand the interregional passages