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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Kömürcü / Kaletepe |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Workshop |
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Altitude:
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1560 m |
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Region:
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Central Anatolia |
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Province:
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Nigde |
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District:
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Çiftlik |
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Village:
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Kömürcü |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Period:
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Aceramic |
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| Location: This site lies in the Nigde province; north of the village of Kömürcü; on a rocky hill behind the village known as Kaletepe. Kaletepe is located in the Central Anatolian volcanic region which is active since the Miocene Period. The volcanic activity which continued in the Quaternary Period; created the layered volcanoes of Erciyes; and Hasan Mountains; as well as the big rhyolite complexes of Acigöl; and Göllü Dag. The Kaletepe Paleolithic is located on the southeastern bank of Kömürcü; a seasonal stream [Balkan-Atli et al. 2007:126]. |
| Geography and Environment: The obsidian tools found at the village of Kömürcü; nearby the obsidian sources; are remains of material which have been transported from the nearby obsidian workshops by natural agents. One of these nearby workshops is the in situ Kaletepe Atelier. The site; which covers a 150x150 m area; functioned as large obsidian working center. The region; now used as a agricultural area; is bounded by two streams on its northeast and another on its southwest [Cauvin-Balkan-Atli 1996:252-253]. The excavation area P is between the two streams; M is above the second stream on the north and the Palaeolithic excavation area is on the third stream flowing in the middle of the atelier. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1993-95 during the obsidian surface survey in the Aksaray; Nigde; Nevsehir Provinces conducted under the leadership of N. Balkan-Atli of the University of Istanbul; Department of Prehistoric Archaeology and M.C. Cauvin of CNRS. After the 1996 systematic survey; it was excavated between 1997-2001. During these excavations; 10 soundings; 2 profiles and a 100 square meters trench were dug. In 2002; workshop studies were conducted directed towards publication. The excavation area P is between the two streams; M is above the second stream on the north and the Palaeolithic excavation area is on the third stream flowing in the middle of the atelier. In the atelier; the 9 m deep profile on the north and the soundings dug in 10 different locations have revealed numerous flaking areas in rapid succession. In addition; the excavations in area P have also dated this section back to Aceramic Neolithic and Palaeolithic. Flakes similar to Çatalöyük were found in area M. In the Palaeolithic excavation area in two sections; Layers I and II were investigated in two periods and Lower and Middle Palaeolithic materials were encountered in 7 layers. Virgin soil was not reached in this area. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Stratigraphy: In the atelier; the 9 m deep profile on the north and the soundings dug in 10 different locations have revealed numerous flaking areas in rapid succession. In addition; the excavations in area P have also dated this section back to Aceramic Neolithic and Palaeolithic. Flakes similar to Çatalöyük were found in area M. In the Palaeolithic excavation area in two sections; Layers I and II were investigated in two periods and Lower and Middle Palaeolithic materials were encountered in 7 layers. As a result of the investigations in area P; it was determined that a vertical stratigraphy can be observed even in an atelier. 0: Surface soil. Layer 1: Includes a small number of mixed Neolithic obsidian finds. Layer 2: This layer is pretty damaged and has yielded stone blocks that can be architectural features. It can be assigned to the Late Aceramic Neolithic (Can Hasan III). Layer 3: It is rich in micro-flake and obsidian granules. Includes sandy and soft Neolithic finds. There is a flaking point with dense mini flakes and the main debitage garbage in the middle. The micro-carbon samples taken from this flaking point have given the dates of 8600-8300 BC. These dates are so far the earliest Neolithic dates of Central Anatolia. Layer 4: This layer is about 50 cm thick and no obsidian finds were encountered. Layer 5: Rhyolite block breccia and obsidian blocks on the rhyolite floor were encountered. |
| Small Finds: The workshop finds include cores with one and two striking platforms and core revival flakes and blades. The pieces found while surveying suggest that the workers hoped to obtain long; even; parallel sided blades appropriate for point production. In addition to very standardized; narrow and long cores; crested blades produced as a result of core preparation; core revival tablets and flakes were found. The survey; however; yielded no blades. The researchers believe that this is due to the fact that blades were exported and that Kaletepe was a blade production and an export center [Cauvin - Balkan-Atli 1996:253]. The laboratory analysis and experimental studies made on the cores belonging to prismatic production; tablets; central blades; side blades; cores and flakes; have shown that a total of 100 blades; including 60 central; can obtained from this production. According to the sizes and the technical specialties of the products; it was determined that the prismatic production was very standard. As in the other production; according to the analysis of the cores; tablets; central blades; side blades; flakes and blades; it was observed that the Naviform production was also standard. This production is characterized by standard cores with a long; smooth; parallel sided flake negative. These cores were named as Kaletepe cores. Laboratory analysis and experimental studies about this production are still being carried out. Retouched pieces are very rare. The collected pieces are; a spearhead with a pictogram engraved on the retouched back side (which was only encountered in Can Hasan III until now); a spearhead with one pressure retouched side (similar to Musular and Can Hasan III); a spearhead produced with the scarf type pressure technique (the spearhead called Abu Gosh type in the Southeastern Anatolia and Syria-Palestine regions) [Balkan et al.2001: 32]. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: As a result of the technical data provided; it is suggested that the Kaletepe products were brought to Middle Euphrates region (Mureybet; Dja'de; Halula) and Cyprus (Schilourokambos) and this export took place in the Middle PPNB and even Early PPNB according to the dating of these settlements. The Neolithic finds of Kaletepe can only be related to the flaking products similar to Çatalhöyük in Central Anatolia. While the 14C samples taken from the 6 m deep profile to the north of the settlement revealed later dates for the upper part of the profile; the lower part revealed a date belonging to PPNB [Balkan-Atli et al.2001: 31]: GifA 99087 BP 5.940±80 BC 5.042-4.608 (2 sigma) GifA 99088 BP 5.870±80 BC 4.918-4.539 (2 sigma) GifA 99089 BP 5.790±80 BC 4.817-4.463 (2 sigma) GifA 99090 BP 8.850±90 BC 8.037-7.620 (2 sigma) |
