Early Settlements and Precurement of Raw Materials - New Evidence Based on Research at Akanthou-Arkosykos (Tatlisu- Çi̇ftli̇kdüzü), Northern Cyprus

Şevketoğlu, Müge

doi:10.22520/tubaar.2008.0003

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This suggests the existence of an incipient site hierarchy regarding obsidian exchange. This would explain why obsidian quantities are unusually high in some Early Neolithic sites of the southern Levant [33,34], or even in Cyprus [35], as these sites would have been privileged partners in obsidian exchange networks of the period. Interestingly, as can be observed in the mapping of the degree distribution per node in the modelled space (figure 8), though the nodes with more distant links are distributed all along the modelled space they tend to concentrate in clusters.…”

Section: Mathematical Modelling and Archaeological Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing complex networks of interaction at the onset of the Near Eastern Neolithic using modelling of obsidian exchange

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Campos

et al. 2015

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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In this paper, we explore the conditions that led to the origins and development of the Near Eastern Neolithic using mathematical modelling of obsidian exchange. The analysis presented expands on previous research, which established that the down-the-line model could not explain long-distance obsidian distribution across the Near East during this period. Drawing from outcomes of new simulations and their comparison with archaeological data, we provide results that illuminate the presence of complex networks of interaction among the earliest farming societies. We explore a network prototype of obsidian exchange with distant links which replicates the long-distance movement of ideas, goods and people during the Early Neolithic. Our results support the idea that during the first (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A) and second (PrePottery Neolithic B) phases of the Early Neolithic, the complexity of obsidian exchange networks gradually increased. We propose then a refined model (the optimized distant link model) whereby long-distance exchange was largely operated by certain interconnected villages, resulting in the appearance of a relatively homogeneous Neolithic cultural sphere. We hypothesize that the appearance of complex interaction and exchange networks reduced risks of isolation caused by restricted mobility as groups settled and argue that these networks partially triggered and were crucial for the success of the Neolithic Revolution. Communities became highly dynamic through the sharing of experiences and objects, while the networks that developed acted as a repository of innovations, limiting the risk of involution.

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Section: Mathematical Modelling and Archaeological Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing complex networks of interaction at the onset of the Near Eastern Neolithic using modelling of obsidian exchange

Ibáñez

Ortega

Campos

et al. 2015

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…With the exception of Shillourokambos (and Akanthou), the quantities of obsidian collected from the remaining Early Aceramic Neolithic Cypriot sites are negligible. This was previously taken to mean that obsidian was distributed to Cyprus via one primary network that linked central Anatolia to either Shillourokambos or Arkosyko, which then functioned as a re-distribution centre within Cyprus (Peltenburg, Colledge, Jackson, McCartney, & Murray, 2001;Şevketoǧlu, 2008). The inaccessibility of the Arkosyko material, inevitably, limits our interpretative ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parekklisia Shillourokambos is a large multi-period site with evidence for obsidian use dominating the earlier phases of the Early Aceramic Neolithic (Briois et al, 1997;Briois, 2011;Guilaine et al, 2002;Guilaine et al, 2011). By far the largest obsidian assemblage on Cyprus is that from Akanthou Arkosyko (Şevketoǧlu, 2008;Şevketoǧlu & Hanson, 2015) with ~5000 recorded pieces. Unfortunately, Arkosyko does not form part of this study as the recorded obsidian material was excavated after 1974 when archaeological research on the northern part of the island became illegal under international law (UNESCO Conventions 1954 and1970).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Compositional Study (pXRF) of Early Holocene Obsidian Assemblages from Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean

Moutsiou

2019

Open Archaeology

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This paper presents the results of the geochemical characterisation of complete obsidian assemblages dating to the Early Aceramic Neolithic (8200–6900 Cal BC) and located in Cyprus, eastern Mediterranean. Obsidian artefacts have over the years been recovered from a number of Early Holocene archaeological sites on the island of Cyprus. As there are no obsidian sources on Cyprus, the presence of obsidian island-wide indicates long-distance sea transport/distribution, central Anatolia usually considered as the main supplying region. Portable XRF technology (X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry) was applied to determine numbers of obsidian sources represented in complete archaeological assemblages and address research questions concerning the social landscape Cyprus was part of during the Early Holocene, a time of significant change in the broader eastern Mediterranean region.

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“…The matches between our models and the archaeological data imply that Neolithic villages most probably played different roles within the obsidian exchange system, with some of them promoting regional exchange, while others were just responsible for the local distribution of the commodity. This would explain why obsidian quantities are unusually high in some Early Neolithic sites of the Southern Levant [35,36], or even in Cyprus [37], as these sites would have been privileged partners in obsidian exchange networks of the period. In fact, the role of hub in obsidian exchange seems to be related to the size of the site, which is clearly visible in the PPNB.…”

Section: Archaeological Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systems of Interaction between the First Sedentary Villages in the Near East Exposed Using Agent-Based Modelling of Obsidian Exchange

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et al. 2016

Systems

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Abstract:In the Near East, nomadic hunter-gatherer societies became sedentary farmers for the first time during the transition into the Neolithic. Sedentary life presented a risk of isolation for Neolithic groups. As fluid intergroup interactions are crucial for the sharing of information, resources and genes, Neolithic villages developed a network of contacts. In this paper we study obsidian exchange between Neolithic villages in order to characterize this network of interaction. Using agent-based modelling and elements taken from complex network theory, we model obsidian exchange and compare results with archaeological data. We demonstrate that complex networks of interaction were established at the outset of the Neolithic and hypothesize that the existence of these complex networks was a necessary condition for the success and spread of a new way of living.

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Early Settlements and Precurement of Raw Materials - New Evidence Based on Research at Akanthou-Arkosykos (Tatlisu- Çi̇ftli̇kdüzü), Northern Cyprus

Abstract: Yakın zamana kadar Kıbns adası ile

Cited by 7 publications

References 1 publication

Testing complex networks of interaction at the onset of the Near Eastern Neolithic using modelling of obsidian exchange

Testing complex networks of interaction at the onset of the Near Eastern Neolithic using modelling of obsidian exchange

A Compositional Study (pXRF) of Early Holocene Obsidian Assemblages from Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean

Systems of Interaction between the First Sedentary Villages in the Near East Exposed Using Agent-Based Modelling of Obsidian Exchange

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