The Beginning of the Neolithic in Southeast Anatolia

Abstract

New research in southeastern Anatolia at Early Neolithic sites has brought a fresh perspective on the emergence of the Neolithic way of life in southwest Asia. In addition to providing more details on the transition to settled life, food production, and technological innovations, this more recent work has increased our understanding of both the time span and geography of the last hunter-gatherers and the earliest farmers in the wider region. Now the picture of the beginning of the Neolithic is more complex and fragmented. This complexity necessitates a multifaceted approach to the questions of the emergence of the Neolithic. In this regard, the data coming from Pre-Pottery Neolithic A sites in southeastern Anatolia, particularly in the Upper Tigris Basin, is remarkable. In this paper the transitional stage to the Neolithic in the region and new data from Gusir Höyük is discussed according to the architectural data.

Pathways to plant domestication in Southeast Anatolia based on new data from aceramic Neolithic Gusir Höyük

“…What all these sites have in common is evidence for architectural complexity and symbolic/ritual elaboration. Göbeklitepe, Çayönü and Gusir are also characterized by long occupation sequences straddling the PPNA-EPPNB timespan 18 , 19 , 31 , 39 . The composition of the Gusir Höyük EPPNB botanical assemblage points to the exploitation of a phenotypically wild crop progenitor mixture (including 1- and 2-grain einkorn and emmer wheat, Lens , Vicia ervilia and Vicia / Lathyrus ) alongside the first appearance in the record of small-seeded legumes ( Medicago , Astragalus , Trigonella and Fabaceae indet.)…”

“…2 , Supplementary Tables S1-S2 , Supplementary Data Files S1 – S2 ). Excavations at Gusir Höyük did not reach virgin soil and the analyses of the site stratigraphy, chronology, architecture and other categories of archaeological finds are ongoing 19 . It follows that the radiometric dates reported in this paper reflect the chronology of the sampled deposits and should not be taken as representative of the site chronology as a whole.…”

“…1 and Supplementary Fig. S1 ) 18 , 19 . Excavations have revealed an area of ~ 0.20 ha containing 7–8 m of PPN deposits rich in chipped stone and ground stone and the remains of stone-built structures (Figs.…”

“…The stratigraphically latest excavated phases include less substantial oval-shaped buildings with one end open to provide access. These buildings had flat stone floors and were separated by large open spaces occasionally containing fire pits 18 , 19 .

Figure 2 Top left: aerial view of the Gusir Höyük excavation grid (grid squares sampled for archaeobotanical remains highlighted in yellow).

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“…The stratigraphically latest excavated phases include less substantial oval-shaped buildings with one end open to provide access. These buildings had flat stone floors and were separated by large open spaces occasionally containing fire pits 18,19 .…”