Elusive Complexity : New Data from late Halaf Domuztepe in South Central Turkey

Abstract

Domuztepe est situé au sud de la partie centrale de la Turquie entre les villes de Kahramanmaraş et Gaziantep. D 'une superficie d 'environ 20 hectares, Domuztepe est l 'un des plus grands établissements du 6e millénaire connu à ce jour. Les recherches ont porté sur les niveaux Halaf récent (Néolithique récent) qui se trouvent approximativement à 2 m de la surface et que les dates C14 permettent de dater entre ca. 5 700 et 5 450 ВС (cal.). Les résultats présentés ici concernent le large terrassement artificiel observé, la, fouille d 'un complexe élaboré de sépultures collectives ; et, pour les couches les plus récentes, le dégagement de structures architecturales les unes rondes, les autres rectililignes. Nous présentons en détail ce qui peut être mis en relation avec les rites qui auraient accompagné l'enterrement de 35-40 individus. Les ensembles céramique, glyptique et de pierre sont brièvement décrits et un aperçu de la paléo-économie est donné. En conclusion une discussion est proposée sur ce qui peut, sur ce site, suggérer l'émergence d'une certaine complexité de l'organisation sociale.

Settlement and Landscape Transformations in the Amuq Valley, Hatay

“…The entire site-area was probably not occupied simultaneously, but the fact that the overall size of the settlement exceeds all contemporaneous ones in the valley suggests that it was a central location of some importance. The discovery of other roughly contemporaneous settlements of similarly large size in the nearby provinces of Kahramanmaraş (Domuztepe; Campbell et al 1999;Carter et al 2003) and Urfa (Kazane Höyük; Bernbeck, Pollock and Coursey 1999) may indicate that the concept of large centers was not uncommon in this period.…”

The occurrence of a new species of <i>Gomphocythere</i> (Ostracoda, Limnocytheridae) in the Holocene of SE Turkey: the northernmost record for the genus

“…Immedi-ately to the north and west the land rises to form a series of low hills. The prehistoric phases of the site have been under investigation since 1995 (see Campbell et al, 1999;Carter et al, 2003). The site is located on the western edge of the 10 km wide Narli plain, which is mapped as 'old alluvium' and 'alluvium'; whilst to the north, south and west the land rises to form a series of hills which are mapped as dolomitic limestone (Geological Reconnaissance Maps of Turkey No.…”

“…During archaeological investigations at the late prehistoric (Halaf Period, approximately 6500-5500 BC) 'tell' site of Domuztepe (Campbell et al, 1999;Carter et al, 2003) in SE Turkey (37(19#10.96 N,37(03#41.16 E), a geoarchaeological survey of the alluvial plain surrounding the site was undertaken. This consisted of the recovery of sediment sequences with a hand-operated auger.…”

Identification of possible source areas of stone raw materials combining remote sensing and petrography

“…The site of Domuztepe (Kahramanmaraş, Turkey) represents the Northwestern border of a unique material culture distribution commonly known as the Halaf culture (Campbell et al 1999;Carter, Campbell, and Gauld 2003) which had influenced vast regions of Northern Mesopotamia during the final stages of the Later Neolithic time period (approximately 6500-5500 BC). Domuztepe remains of the largest known Halaf period sites (at 20 ha in total area) in all of the ancient Near East (Campbell et al 1999).…”