Dördüncü yılımızda, dördüncü sayıyla herkese merhaba. Evrensel arkeolojinin diğer disiplinlerle i... more Dördüncü yılımızda, dördüncü sayıyla herkese merhaba. Evrensel arkeolojinin diğer disiplinlerle iş birliği içinde, teknolojik yenilikleri ve araçları kullandığı günümüzde, daha fazla bilim diyerek "Arkeoloji Bilimleri" ismiyle çıkarmaya başladığımız dergimizin dördüncü sayısında bazı yeniliklere yer vermeyi gerekli bulduk. Bu sayıyla birlikte dergimizde artık kuramsal ve metodolojik yaklaşımlara, kitap tanıtım ve eleştirilerine yer vermeye başlıyoruz. Bu yeni adımın Türkiye'deki arkeoloji ortamının ihtiyacı olan çok seslilik, eleştiri ve tartışma ortamına katkı sağlayacağı düşüncesindeyiz. Özellikle de güncel devlet politikalarıyla Türkiye'deki arkeoloji ortamının yeşertmeye çalıştığı bilimsel çerçeve ve hedeflere olumsuz anlamda tesir edecek adımların atıldığı, arkeolojinin turizm ve restorasyonla karıştırıldığı koşullarda.
This paper represents a preliminary report of the results obtained from a sounding at the mouth o... more This paper represents a preliminary report of the results obtained from a sounding at the mouth of the Girmeler Cave in 2020. In addition, it also re-evaluates the data derived from the trail trenches previously opened in the same area. Girmeler is the only site in Western Anatolia that elucidates the transition from the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene. In Girmeler, radical changes were determined in the chipped stone industry between the late Pleistocene and the early Holocene, which reveals differences from the Antalya region and Central Anatolian. The late Pleistocene layers, characterized by geometric microliths, were replaced by a flake and bladelet based industry without geometric microliths and bears general similarities with the chipped stone industries from the Aegean islands sites of the early Holocene. The cave was likely inhabited by semi-sedentary hunter groups engaged in selective gathering and some agriculture, which lived in wattle-and-daub huts with lime plastered floor.
Scholars working in the Aegean are used to associating the term Neolithic always wit... more Scholars working in the Aegean are used to associating the term Neolithic always with plant culti-vation and domesticated animals. On the other hand, the recent trends in redefining the Neolithic reveal that the Neolithic is marked not only by the onset of farming and animal husbandry, but also by sedentism, structural transformation, symbolic behavior and sensory perception of landscape etc. This essay reveals that the Aegean 9th millennium BC communities show the same general trends as the Cypriot and Anatolian Pre-Pottery Neolithic, and it is necessary to consider a Neolithic period without pottery in the Aegean
The 8.2 ka BP event is one of the most proeminent and abrupt climatic events of the Holocene, sho... more The 8.2 ka BP event is one of the most proeminent and abrupt climatic events of the Holocene, showing generally drier and colder conditions for ca. 160 years, but there are also variations in climatic impacts by region. Dating and archaeological evidence indicates that the impact of the climate event varies by region, from large‑scale site abandonment to continued occupation and local adaptation. The dating evidence from Uğurlu on the Island of Gökçeada, Northeast Aegean, shows that there is a clear hiatus in 14C dates between ca. 8220 and 8000 cal BP, corresponding to the 8.2 ka BP climate event. This paper presents dating and archaeological evidence from Uğurlu and discusses the consequences of evidence in terms of the 8.2 ka BP climate event.
The discovery of a burial pit at Ug˘urlu on the Aegean island of Gökçeada, in which bodies were d... more The discovery of a burial pit at Ug˘urlu on the Aegean island of Gökçeada, in which bodies were deposited one on top of another, raises questions about whether this apparently careless discarding of the dead was local burial custom or a ceremonial ritual.
Tuz Golu (Salt Lake) is a large salt lake located in the heart of Anatolia. Long-term morphologic... more Tuz Golu (Salt Lake) is a large salt lake located in the heart of Anatolia. Long-term morphological development of the lake is controlled by the Tuz Golu Fault Zone and the Inonu-Eskisehir Fault System. The Central Black Sea Mountains in the north and the Taurus Mountain Belt in the south are major climatic barriers generating a precipitation shadow effect on the Anatolian Plateau that worsens the continental climatic conditions characterized here by cold winter, hot summer and relative dryness. Climate, together with active tectonics, let Tuz Golu to preserve a water depth of maximum 1.5 m. Besides the natural beauty of the outstanding landscapes provided by this shining white lake, numerous salt farms are spread over the lake and neighbouring small lakes. Archaeological data evidence that salt exploitation and trade centres around Tuz Golu were established since prehistoric and during ancient historic times. This natural and cultural heritage is now threatened by anthropogenic and...
The site of Ugurlu Hoyük on the island of Gokçeada, Turkey, has yielded rich archaeological finds... more The site of Ugurlu Hoyük on the island of Gokçeada, Turkey, has yielded rich archaeological finds and presented the earliest evidence for the settlement of the eastern Aegean region in the Neolithic. Recent excavations revealed a burial pit containing the skeletons of 11 individuals as well as an additional pit with the partial remains of one individual. Previous work has applied stable isotope analysis to faunal remains at the site throughout the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The newly discovered human remains provide an opportunity to gain further insight into the diet and health of the inhabitants of Ugurlu during the Chalcolithic, c. 5300 cal BC. Stable isotope analysis of 11 individuals reveals that their diet consisted primarily of terrestrial animal protein and local C3 crops. There is no evidence for consumption of marine resources, an assertion that agrees with previous interpretations that islanders during this period focused their economy on animal husbandry and cultivation rather than fishing.
Avant-propos; Aksel was an exceptional friend and colleague who will be deeply missed by all who ... more Avant-propos; Aksel was an exceptional friend and colleague who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His sudden loss made us all very sad. Aksel was loved so much that it is hard to believe that he is no longer with us. He will always remain within our hearts.
The use of marine shells in the manufacture of bracelets and beads is a well-attested phenomenon ... more The use of marine shells in the manufacture of bracelets and beads is a well-attested phenomenon of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods of Western Anatolia, the Aegean, and the Balkans. The site of Gökçeada-Uğurlu, located on an island in the Aegean between mainland Europe and Anatolia, shows evidence for the manufacture and use of bracelets and beads from Spondylus and Glycymeris shell. This use of personal ornamentation ties the site into one of the widest material culture production and trade networks of the prehistoric period. This article explores the possible role of, and influences on, an island site within the wider context of long-distance exchange. The life history of shell products is investigated, showing that a bracelet may have gone through processes of transformation in order to remain in use. The article also questions whether there was a relationship between the use of marine shell and white marble from which similar products were manufactured in contemporary con...
An early Neolithic settlement with western Anatolian-type material was recently found on the isla... more An early Neolithic settlement with western Anatolian-type material was recently found on the island of Gökçeada (Imbroz). None of the colonization models indicate that Gökçeada is the most promising island for early colonization. In this article I suggest that the importance of islands may also lie in their symbolic significance. The early Neolithic communities built up place-myths about the islands. Place-myths are closely related to place-images, which are generally derived from visual experiences. Myths enabled a Neolithic community to establish a sense of belonging to the islands. This might have led to permanent settlement of some of the islands.
Eksino, on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) in the Northeast Aegean, is a new open-air site with e... more Eksino, on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) in the Northeast Aegean, is a new open-air site with evidence of Palaeolithic cultural remains. Stone tools collected by an initial survey have clarified an assessment of the site from the Lower Palaeolithic, and brought to light new evidence from the Middle Palaeolithic as well as transition to the Upper Palaeolithic. Eksino is probably one of the most significant Lower Palaeolithic tool collections in the North Aegean, and finds such as chopper or chopping tools and Acheulean bifacial handaxes from the site show that the North Aegean may be another possible dispersal route from hominids to Europe via the East and Northeast Mediterranean during the Lower Palaeolithic. Middle Palaeolithic finds are frequent in the site and finds resemble the typical Mousterian type which is characterized by discoidal cores, Levallois cores and flakes, scrapers, denticulates, notches and points. Upper Palaeolithic finds are rare in the site, and a bifacial leaf point and large crescent-shaped backed pieces made on blades may reveal the presence of the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition on the island. This new data from Palaeolithic Gökçeada is likely to fill key geographic gaps associated with the initial dispersal of hominins through the northeast Aegean islands.
The site of Uğurlu on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) is the earliest known Neolithic settlement ... more The site of Uğurlu on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) is the earliest known Neolithic settlement within the Aegean Islands (c.6800–4500 cal. BC). In total, 37 pits, associated with a rich variety of artefacts as well as human and animal bones were excavated in the Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic levels of the site (c.5900–4500 BC). The pits belonging to the early sixth millennium BC levels of Uğurlu were small and located within the houses that seem to have gone through multiple episodes of house destruction and renovation rituals. During the late sixth millennium BC, this area became the focus of extensive pit-digging activity, when large pits involving rich variety of artefacts were set within the courtyard of a special building (Building 4). Among the pits, a collective human burial pit (P188) incorporating the remains of 11 individuals and another pit (P52) involving a partial human skeleton were also found. From a comparative point of view, the construction techniques of these pits, their spatio-temporal relations as well as their associated archaeological artefacts resemble the Anatolian and Near Eastern Neolithic practices of house destruction and renovation cycles, which are activities related to the ancestor cults of the region. We argue that all of these practices reflect public events during which social relations were negotiated through the agency of place. The differences observed during the sixth millennium BC at Uğurlu reflect the changing concepts of place and society in the immediate aftermath of the Neolithic Process, when interactions with the Balkans as well as the Aegean intensified in this region.
Dördüncü yılımızda, dördüncü sayıyla herkese merhaba. Evrensel arkeolojinin diğer disiplinlerle i... more Dördüncü yılımızda, dördüncü sayıyla herkese merhaba. Evrensel arkeolojinin diğer disiplinlerle iş birliği içinde, teknolojik yenilikleri ve araçları kullandığı günümüzde, daha fazla bilim diyerek "Arkeoloji Bilimleri" ismiyle çıkarmaya başladığımız dergimizin dördüncü sayısında bazı yeniliklere yer vermeyi gerekli bulduk. Bu sayıyla birlikte dergimizde artık kuramsal ve metodolojik yaklaşımlara, kitap tanıtım ve eleştirilerine yer vermeye başlıyoruz. Bu yeni adımın Türkiye'deki arkeoloji ortamının ihtiyacı olan çok seslilik, eleştiri ve tartışma ortamına katkı sağlayacağı düşüncesindeyiz. Özellikle de güncel devlet politikalarıyla Türkiye'deki arkeoloji ortamının yeşertmeye çalıştığı bilimsel çerçeve ve hedeflere olumsuz anlamda tesir edecek adımların atıldığı, arkeolojinin turizm ve restorasyonla karıştırıldığı koşullarda.
This paper represents a preliminary report of the results obtained from a sounding at the mouth o... more This paper represents a preliminary report of the results obtained from a sounding at the mouth of the Girmeler Cave in 2020. In addition, it also re-evaluates the data derived from the trail trenches previously opened in the same area. Girmeler is the only site in Western Anatolia that elucidates the transition from the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene. In Girmeler, radical changes were determined in the chipped stone industry between the late Pleistocene and the early Holocene, which reveals differences from the Antalya region and Central Anatolian. The late Pleistocene layers, characterized by geometric microliths, were replaced by a flake and bladelet based industry without geometric microliths and bears general similarities with the chipped stone industries from the Aegean islands sites of the early Holocene. The cave was likely inhabited by semi-sedentary hunter groups engaged in selective gathering and some agriculture, which lived in wattle-and-daub huts with lime plastered floor.
Scholars working in the Aegean are used to associating the term Neolithic always wit... more Scholars working in the Aegean are used to associating the term Neolithic always with plant culti-vation and domesticated animals. On the other hand, the recent trends in redefining the Neolithic reveal that the Neolithic is marked not only by the onset of farming and animal husbandry, but also by sedentism, structural transformation, symbolic behavior and sensory perception of landscape etc. This essay reveals that the Aegean 9th millennium BC communities show the same general trends as the Cypriot and Anatolian Pre-Pottery Neolithic, and it is necessary to consider a Neolithic period without pottery in the Aegean
The 8.2 ka BP event is one of the most proeminent and abrupt climatic events of the Holocene, sho... more The 8.2 ka BP event is one of the most proeminent and abrupt climatic events of the Holocene, showing generally drier and colder conditions for ca. 160 years, but there are also variations in climatic impacts by region. Dating and archaeological evidence indicates that the impact of the climate event varies by region, from large‑scale site abandonment to continued occupation and local adaptation. The dating evidence from Uğurlu on the Island of Gökçeada, Northeast Aegean, shows that there is a clear hiatus in 14C dates between ca. 8220 and 8000 cal BP, corresponding to the 8.2 ka BP climate event. This paper presents dating and archaeological evidence from Uğurlu and discusses the consequences of evidence in terms of the 8.2 ka BP climate event.
The discovery of a burial pit at Ug˘urlu on the Aegean island of Gökçeada, in which bodies were d... more The discovery of a burial pit at Ug˘urlu on the Aegean island of Gökçeada, in which bodies were deposited one on top of another, raises questions about whether this apparently careless discarding of the dead was local burial custom or a ceremonial ritual.
Tuz Golu (Salt Lake) is a large salt lake located in the heart of Anatolia. Long-term morphologic... more Tuz Golu (Salt Lake) is a large salt lake located in the heart of Anatolia. Long-term morphological development of the lake is controlled by the Tuz Golu Fault Zone and the Inonu-Eskisehir Fault System. The Central Black Sea Mountains in the north and the Taurus Mountain Belt in the south are major climatic barriers generating a precipitation shadow effect on the Anatolian Plateau that worsens the continental climatic conditions characterized here by cold winter, hot summer and relative dryness. Climate, together with active tectonics, let Tuz Golu to preserve a water depth of maximum 1.5 m. Besides the natural beauty of the outstanding landscapes provided by this shining white lake, numerous salt farms are spread over the lake and neighbouring small lakes. Archaeological data evidence that salt exploitation and trade centres around Tuz Golu were established since prehistoric and during ancient historic times. This natural and cultural heritage is now threatened by anthropogenic and...
The site of Ugurlu Hoyük on the island of Gokçeada, Turkey, has yielded rich archaeological finds... more The site of Ugurlu Hoyük on the island of Gokçeada, Turkey, has yielded rich archaeological finds and presented the earliest evidence for the settlement of the eastern Aegean region in the Neolithic. Recent excavations revealed a burial pit containing the skeletons of 11 individuals as well as an additional pit with the partial remains of one individual. Previous work has applied stable isotope analysis to faunal remains at the site throughout the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The newly discovered human remains provide an opportunity to gain further insight into the diet and health of the inhabitants of Ugurlu during the Chalcolithic, c. 5300 cal BC. Stable isotope analysis of 11 individuals reveals that their diet consisted primarily of terrestrial animal protein and local C3 crops. There is no evidence for consumption of marine resources, an assertion that agrees with previous interpretations that islanders during this period focused their economy on animal husbandry and cultivation rather than fishing.
Avant-propos; Aksel was an exceptional friend and colleague who will be deeply missed by all who ... more Avant-propos; Aksel was an exceptional friend and colleague who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His sudden loss made us all very sad. Aksel was loved so much that it is hard to believe that he is no longer with us. He will always remain within our hearts.
The use of marine shells in the manufacture of bracelets and beads is a well-attested phenomenon ... more The use of marine shells in the manufacture of bracelets and beads is a well-attested phenomenon of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods of Western Anatolia, the Aegean, and the Balkans. The site of Gökçeada-Uğurlu, located on an island in the Aegean between mainland Europe and Anatolia, shows evidence for the manufacture and use of bracelets and beads from Spondylus and Glycymeris shell. This use of personal ornamentation ties the site into one of the widest material culture production and trade networks of the prehistoric period. This article explores the possible role of, and influences on, an island site within the wider context of long-distance exchange. The life history of shell products is investigated, showing that a bracelet may have gone through processes of transformation in order to remain in use. The article also questions whether there was a relationship between the use of marine shell and white marble from which similar products were manufactured in contemporary con...
An early Neolithic settlement with western Anatolian-type material was recently found on the isla... more An early Neolithic settlement with western Anatolian-type material was recently found on the island of Gökçeada (Imbroz). None of the colonization models indicate that Gökçeada is the most promising island for early colonization. In this article I suggest that the importance of islands may also lie in their symbolic significance. The early Neolithic communities built up place-myths about the islands. Place-myths are closely related to place-images, which are generally derived from visual experiences. Myths enabled a Neolithic community to establish a sense of belonging to the islands. This might have led to permanent settlement of some of the islands.
Eksino, on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) in the Northeast Aegean, is a new open-air site with e... more Eksino, on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) in the Northeast Aegean, is a new open-air site with evidence of Palaeolithic cultural remains. Stone tools collected by an initial survey have clarified an assessment of the site from the Lower Palaeolithic, and brought to light new evidence from the Middle Palaeolithic as well as transition to the Upper Palaeolithic. Eksino is probably one of the most significant Lower Palaeolithic tool collections in the North Aegean, and finds such as chopper or chopping tools and Acheulean bifacial handaxes from the site show that the North Aegean may be another possible dispersal route from hominids to Europe via the East and Northeast Mediterranean during the Lower Palaeolithic. Middle Palaeolithic finds are frequent in the site and finds resemble the typical Mousterian type which is characterized by discoidal cores, Levallois cores and flakes, scrapers, denticulates, notches and points. Upper Palaeolithic finds are rare in the site, and a bifacial leaf point and large crescent-shaped backed pieces made on blades may reveal the presence of the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition on the island. This new data from Palaeolithic Gökçeada is likely to fill key geographic gaps associated with the initial dispersal of hominins through the northeast Aegean islands.
The site of Uğurlu on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) is the earliest known Neolithic settlement ... more The site of Uğurlu on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros) is the earliest known Neolithic settlement within the Aegean Islands (c.6800–4500 cal. BC). In total, 37 pits, associated with a rich variety of artefacts as well as human and animal bones were excavated in the Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic levels of the site (c.5900–4500 BC). The pits belonging to the early sixth millennium BC levels of Uğurlu were small and located within the houses that seem to have gone through multiple episodes of house destruction and renovation rituals. During the late sixth millennium BC, this area became the focus of extensive pit-digging activity, when large pits involving rich variety of artefacts were set within the courtyard of a special building (Building 4). Among the pits, a collective human burial pit (P188) incorporating the remains of 11 individuals and another pit (P52) involving a partial human skeleton were also found. From a comparative point of view, the construction techniques of these pits, their spatio-temporal relations as well as their associated archaeological artefacts resemble the Anatolian and Near Eastern Neolithic practices of house destruction and renovation cycles, which are activities related to the ancestor cults of the region. We argue that all of these practices reflect public events during which social relations were negotiated through the agency of place. The differences observed during the sixth millennium BC at Uğurlu reflect the changing concepts of place and society in the immediate aftermath of the Neolithic Process, when interactions with the Balkans as well as the Aegean intensified in this region.
Although its existence has been known since 1929, it was only officially registered in 2018. Over... more Although its existence has been known since 1929, it was only officially registered in 2018. Over the years, Domuzburnu Cave has been subjected to unauthorized excavations. In 2020 the Antalya Museum collected archaeological material that had surfaced due to looters and provided this material for further study (Viale 1929; Kökten 1947; Işın 2022). The nature of the examined material indicated the necessity for a sondage excava- tion. In September 2022, under the leadership of the Antalya Museum and with the scientific guidance of Burçin Erdoğu and Gül Işın from the Department of Archaeology at Akdeniz University, two sondage excava- tions were conducted in two locations. One was in the northeast part of the cave (A Trench) while the other was in the northwest part (C Trench). The results of the exca- vations have revealed the nature of the cave’s stratigra- phy and occupation, which is summarized as follows
Uploads
Papers by Burçin Erdoğu
https://publications.naim.bg/index.php/stprae/article/view/291/216
and cultivation rather than fishing.
relations were negotiated through the agency of place. The differences observed during the sixth millennium BC at Uğurlu reflect the changing concepts of place and society in the immediate aftermath of the Neolithic Process, when interactions with the Balkans as well as the Aegean intensified in this region.
https://publications.naim.bg/index.php/stprae/article/view/291/216
and cultivation rather than fishing.
relations were negotiated through the agency of place. The differences observed during the sixth millennium BC at Uğurlu reflect the changing concepts of place and society in the immediate aftermath of the Neolithic Process, when interactions with the Balkans as well as the Aegean intensified in this region.