THE CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA AKSARAY-NIGDE REGION

Abstract

Cappadocia offered prehistoric societies a flourishing landscape rich in natural resources such as wild plants and animals, wood, salt, clay, obsidian, stone, a variety of minerals and even some copper. The latest archaeological excavations and surveys around the governorships of Aksaray and Nigde have enriched our knowledge about the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods. The results of the excavations and C14 cal. dates from Kosk Hoyuk (Bor-Nigde), Tepecik Ciftlik (Ciftlik-Nigde), Gelveri-Yuk-sekkilise Guzelyurt-Aksaray) and Guvercinkayasi (Gulagac-Aksaray) enable us to set up a reliable chronology from Late Neolithic to the Late Chalcolithic (LC) Period. The EC levels of Tepecik Ciftlik and Kosk Hoyuk form a cultural whole with their architectural layout, figural decorated pottery and other small finds. Gelveri-Yuksekkilise, known since the fifties for their spiral motif pottery, have close links to the Can Hasan I 2A/B at Karaman, and most likely dates to the late EC period.