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Karain Magarasi

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Karain Mağarası
Type:
 Cave
Altitude:
 360 m
Region:
 Mediterranean
Province:
 Antalya
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Yagca
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 AP OP ÜP EP

     

Location: This cave site is approximately 27 km northwest of the city of Antalya; immediately northeast of the village of Yagca. It is connected to Antalya with an asphalt road and easy to reach. Code V 19 / 1.
Geography and Environment: The cave is a natural hollow carved into the steep karstic limestone flanks of Mount Çadir Tepesi; an extension of Mount Katran (Çam). The cave consists of three different spacious galleries. The outermost first gallery that receives the most light is divided into five different chambers and labeled A; B;C and D. According to the finds; it was understood that all of these chambers were not inhabited during the Chalcolithic.
History:
Research and Excavation: The Karain cave-site was discovered by Kiliç Kökten and his student; Fikret Ozansoy; in 1946 during a side survey they conducted while doing research at the Gurma (Kurma) Cave in the Antalya Region. When the cave was discovered; it was difficult to enter because the entrance was blocked by a thick travertine wall. After blasting the travertine with dynamite the cave was widely investigated. As a result of the chipped stone finds encountered on the present floor of the cave Kökten has decided to excavate the cave. The excavation was started in 1946 in Chamber A which had the most light. The excavations conducted under Kökten's direction continued until 1972. Chalcolithic Age sherds were recovered at the uppermost level of Galleries B and E during the 1946-72 excavations. Excavations were halted for over a decade following Kökten's death in 1974. The trenches were reopened in 1985 by Isin Yalçinkaya; a member of Kökten's excavation team; who wanted to further understand the chipped stone sequences; the stratigraphy; the faunal and floral assemblages of the site. It was interpreted that the cave was settled for a long time at this age. Chalcolithic sherds were recovered at an area of 4 square meters; 13 m away from the entrance and from Kökten's trenches; during the excavation conducted by I. Yalçinkaya in 1985. The Chalcolithic Age stratigraphy of the cave was obtained [Yalçinkaya 1987:23]. Excavation project led by Yalçinkaya became international as H.J. Müller-Beck from the University of Tubingen and M. Otte from the University of Liege joined the team. The team excavated the site until 2014 and in 2015 H. Taskiran took over the project. Karain Cave is listed an officially registered archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: Both Kökten and Yalçinkaya's results have added to our understanding of the Palaeolithic in Turkey. Because the stratigraphy as determined by Kökten is different from Yalçinkaya's; we have included both stratigraphic sequences below. The stratigraphy as determined by Kökten: In the excavations Kökten led in Chamber "E"; VIII Roman numeral levels subdivided into a total of 13 different layers; each represented by a letter; were identified. The upper most level; Level I consists of two layers; A and B. This layer includes mixed Roman-Hellenistic; Early Bronze Age; Chalcolithic and Neolithic pottery. The inscriptions by the entrance indicate that the cave was used as a cult center in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. It is not certain whether the Epipalaeolithic occupation of Antalya also applies to this cave. Beneath the 40 cm thick layer A is layer B which dates to the Upper Palaeolithic and varies between 98 and 110 cm in thickness. The lower part of layer B yielded a large number of Aurignacien tools [Kökten 1955:275]. The color of the soil in Level II (which consists of four layers: C;D;E;F) totaling 98 cm in thickness; is a darker brown although there are occasional pockets of different colored soils. Within Level III (Layers G and H); there is a decrease in sedimentary layers and an increase in the material cultural levels; which yielded more faunal remains and hearths. Kökten uses this information to conclude that the temperature must have been warm but rainy in the first half and cold or cold and rainy in the second half of the occupation of this level. Relying on the finds; Kökten assigns the 62-75 cm thick Level III to the Middle Palaeolithic. Perhaps the most important level of the Karain excavations is the following; Level IV. The upper and lower parts of this colorful 162 cm thick layer are reddish-pink and yellowish-brown while the middle part of this layer is blackish-blue-brown and reddish-brown. The soil is loosely packed. According to Kökten; Level IV is Lower Palaeolithic in date. Although Level V; which is greenish-brown in color and varies between 82 and 113 cm is mostly sterile; Level VI beneath yielded examples of a rich Lower Palaeolithic flake industry. Kökten believes that Level V was deposited in a very cold period. Level VI is 127 cm thick and is hard in some places. Level VII is believed to be an older part of the sixth level and varies between 37 and 84 cm in thickness. The final and eighth level; Level VIII; is a sandy; black-specked layer which is 120 cm thick. It is assumed that the black specks have resulted from the pressure of the levels above. Level VIII is also the final level before bedrock was reached. The stratigraphy as determined by Yalçinkaya: Yalçinkaya; who set out to solve some of the problems in Kökten's stratigraphic sequencing; conducted research in the Antalya region to collect information on the Pleistocene flora and fauna. Furthermore; she analyzed the sedimentary layers for age estimates. Perhaps one of the more useful of the projects she directed was the topographic plans of the Karain Caves graphed in 1984 and 1989. The excavations directed by Yalçinkaya were carried out in the same outermost chamber that Kökten excavated in; Chamber "E"; as well as in Chamber "B" immediately to its west. The excavations in the latter chamber exposed 12 geological strata and 32 archaeological layers. Of these 32; layers 1-7 are mixed and layers 8-12 date to the Early Bronze Age; Chalcolithic and Neolithic. The Palaeolithic begins after the thirteenth layer. Layers 15-17 are Late Upper Palaeolithic while layers 18-32 are Middle Palaeolithic [Yalçinkaya 1987:24]. A sample from the Late Upper Palaeolithic was dated to 16.250 ± 790 B.P. Excavations in Chamber "E" included a vertical strip along the badly damaged eastern profile and a horizontal one along the remaining depositional layer. In their latest publication Yalçinkaya; Otte and other members of the research team note that another previously unidentified layer might exist. The accepted opinion is that the strata pass through three different phases. The lowest and oldest phase; Phase V yielded some roughly denticulated and notched tools which are believed to be Clactonien in character. This phase has been dated to pre-350.000 B.P. The phase above is comprised of units IV and III (3-5) and is dated between 350.000 and 300.000 B.P. This layer yielded tools including side scrapers with stepped and scaled edge retouch which resembles European Charentien types. Roughly denticulated and notched tools continue to be found in this phase. The upper most phase; comprised of units III;II and I (2-7); has been dated between 300.000 and 60.000 B.P. The chipped stone technology in this phase is called Karain Mousterien or Zagros Mousterien. It yielded many side scrapers and classic Mousterien points. This phase has been assigned to the Late Upper Palaeolithic [Yalçinkaya et al. 1997:table 3-4]. The Stratigraphy of Gallery B: The results of the recent studies indicate that the stratigraphy of Gallery B consists of deposits belonging to Holocene and Pleistocene. The Holocene levels were labeled as "H" and separated into 5 different geological units. The Pleistocene levels, on the other hand, were assigned as "P" and divided into 10 geological units. This separation is based on geological units. Therefore, they do not represent cultural differences. The Holocene levels as it follows: H.I: The remains belonging to Byzantine and Roman periods as well as modern and recent past. Probably it represents a midden / refuse area belonging to the period in which the terrace of the cave was occupied. H.II: The level containing mixed EBA and Chalcolithic finds. H.III: Mostly Chalcolithic finds. H.IV: Chalcolithic and Late Neolithic. H.V: Late Neolithic. The Pleistocene levels: P.I.1 and P.I.2: Epipalaeolithic. P.I.3: Upper Palaeolithic-Epipalaeolithic transition period. P.II: Upper Palaeolithic. P.III: Middle Palaeolithic-Upper Palaeolithic transition period. P.IV: Karain Type Mousterien P.V: Karain Type Mousterien and Zagros Type Mousterien P.VI: Dominated by flake technology. The usage of the Levalloistechnique beginning from P.IV continues in P.VI as well. P.VII: Karain Type Mousterien P.VIII: 6 retouched flakes, 4 side scrapers, 1 denticulated tool and 4 cores were found. P.IX: 9 side scrapers, 1 Levallois point, 5 retouched flakes, 1 retouched blade, 1 denticulated tool and 1 notched side scraper were found. P.X: 5 side scrapers, 2 Mousterien points, 1 notched and 1 retouched flake, 1 denticulated tool were found. Side scrapers are common. P.XI: 1 side scraper, 2 typical Mousterien points were found [Yaman 2012].
Small Finds: Epipalaeolithic Small Finds: Microliths which are not geometrical and end scrapers were abundantly encountered. Nibbled tools were also gathered. Among the production debitages; numerous bladelets and bladelet cores were seen in spite of the little number of blades. Awls and a grinding stone represent the other finds of this period [Yalçinkaya et al. 2000a:19]. The assemblage of Epipalaeolithic chipped stone finds consists of microliths; end scrapers; pruned pieces; retouched blades; stone perforators; nibbled flakes and prismatic cores in level P.I.1. The dominant type is microlith. In level P.I.2; there is a decrease in the number of microliths. In this level bone tools such as pierced needles; cut antlers and awls were also encountered. Beads made of dentalium and other seashells were found [Yalçinkaya et al. 2003:164]. The Epipalaeolithic beginning was revealed at the top layer of the Pleistocene levels in Segment B. This layer was only identified on the northern cross-section. Microliths; blade flakes; modified or unmodified blades; chips; and bladelets were found dating to that period [Yalçinkaya et al. 2007:546]. In 2014, all the layers excavated in Gallery B belong to Pleistocene and are dated to the geological unit P.I.1 Epipalaeolithic. At this elevation, a high density of chipped stone finds was recovered. The majority of them are made out of radiolarite. The flint and obsidian ones are less in quantity. The chipped stone finds generally consist of a great number of blades, bladelets, core and core pieces and core preparation pieces. Apart from these, there are macrolith and microlith tools, knapping waste in large quantity, and chips. The core types are unipolar, bipolar and cross cores. The technological pieces consist of crested blades, plunging pieces and core tablets. The majority of macroliths, on the other hand, are end scrapers on blades and flakes, stone borers and piercing tools, retouched blades, denticulated and notched tools, stone burins, and piéce esquillées. The microliths are densely retouched and backed bladelets, microgravette points, and truncated blades. Bone tools: The animal finger bones that were vertically cut are noteworthy. The function of these bones is not clear. In addition to these, awls, bone points, two broken pins were found. Although columbella beads are common as ornaments, there are also dentalium and stone beads. During the 2014 studies, a fish head shaped stone piece with an engraving, which is unique for Karain Epipalaeolithic, was found. The faunal remains are examined under two categories: macro fauna and micro fauna. All of the macro fauna finds is related to nourishment. The most common finds are sheep and goat. The micro mammal bones consist of gnawing mammals that were lived together with humans in the cave. There are also marine and terrestrial shells [Yalcinkaya et al. 2016: 239-241]. The 2015 studies concentrated on the geological unit P.I.2. Among the finds, the end scrapers show great variety. The end scrapers on distal end of blade vary in sizes. The end scrapers on flakes are noteworthy with their thick or thin fronts. Among the blade blanks, denticulates, retouched blades, and backed blades are common. The microgravette points on thin bladelets are in great quality. Backed bladelets are common among non-geometric microliths. There are also borers and micro borers. In the geological unit P.I.2, the pieces such as plunging and crested pieces, core tablets, curved blades, and rejuvenation flakes indicate that the knapping process occurred inside the cave. The flat radiolarite blocks were generally used as cores. Bipolar or unipolar prismatic blade-bladelet cores are common. Cross blade and bladelet cores were used for blank production. The chipped stone industry also contains hammers. Among the finds, there are also bone tools such as awls, bark extractors and pin fragments. The beads made out of various raw materials show the richness of the culture. The ground stone pieces are also very important during this period. The faunal remains are similar with the ones found in the previous seasons. The horns are common. The fact that the vertebral bones were found intact while the majority of the long bones were found broken indicates that the bone marrow was consumed. The faunal finds dated between 20.500 BC and 16.400 BC are the archaeological documents of the last ice age [Taskiran et al. 2017:529-530, 532]. Late Upper Palaeolithic Small Finds: The chipped stone technology of this period includes inverse backed bladelets; end scrapers [Yalçinkaya 1987:26;fig.15]; burins; small discoid cores and a few small points. The number of bladelets in this period is high while burins are quite rare. In addition to the chipped stone industry; bone tools including points; a fragment of a lancehead point and an antler fragment used as a borer have been found. Piercing of sea shells indicate that they were used for decorative purposes. In level P.II of chamber B; which is dated to the Upper Palaeolithic; crested end scrapers and the first examples of prismatic cores were found. Bone tools are represented by a single awl. Early Upper Palaeolithic Small Finds: Carinated end scrapers with thick flakes and a Levallois core was found. There are also rounded carinated end scarpers [Yalçinkaya et. al 2000a:19; 20]. Very typical pre-scrapers on blades; and thin chips among the Upper Palaeolithic finds found at Segment B are remarkable. Crested pre-scrapers were made on the remainders of the chips. The fact that the flakes of that period usually are bladelet flakes show the presence of Microlithisation at Karain Upper Palaeolithic; and that the flake knapping continued until all the flakes were consumed. Because the presence of the bigger size fragments called blades is a proof that that bigger size blades were produced although not very common in flake knapping strategy [Yalçinkaya et al. 2007:546-547]. Middle Palaeolithic Small Finds: Typical Mousterien points; disks and discoid cores as well as end scrapers are tools that collectively represent this period [Yalçinkaya 1992:36;fig.I-IV]. Excavation yielded high numbers of flakes and debitage products; indicating that flake removal was carried out within the cave. In this period; smaller flint cores seem to have been preferred over larger ones. The fact that they reused Levallois cores as discoid cores shows that they were economic in the use of this raw material. The points and end scrapers indicate that the habitants of the cave were hunters. A tooth mark remain; a mandible fragment; phalanxes and an in situ leg bone belonging to a Neanderthal were found. It is not clear that all of these bones belong to one single Neanderthal [Yalçinkaya et al. 1998:26; 27]. All of the finds encountered in chamber E belong to different phases of the Middle Palaeolithic. But there is also a complexity in the finds caused by the cracks and clefts in the debitage or by animals. The geological level III.2.1 includes Karain type Mousterien tools. Level III.3 has yielded the typical pieces of Karain type Mousterien and Quine type Mousterien together. As a result of this evidence; the argument that suggests that III.3 is a transitional phase between two Middle Palaeolithic cultures has become more certain. Another significant feature of this level is the presence of a tool that is peculiar to Karain. This type is for now named as "point perforator". Level III.4 has yielded the living floor of charentenien and includes the typical examples of this culture. The most common tools are the end scrapers. Although it is too early to make interpretations about the industry assemblage of III.5; based on the fact that the pieces are very thick and coarse; for now maybe a proto-charentien can be mentioned. With the upperjaw bone of a rhinoceros found in 2001; a new species was added to the fauna of Karain. In addition; animal remains such as a damaged tooth; which apparently belongs to an elephant; a small task fragment; and numerous animal caprolite were found [Yalçinkaya et al. 2003:160-162]. In level P.III.1; which includes the Middle Palaeolithic finds of chamber B; typical end scrapers and points of Karain type Mousterien; and Levallois products were encountered. Levallois technique was used more commonly during P.III.2. Level P.III.3; for now; seems to be a transitional phase between Karain type Mousterien and charentien industries. During P.IV; the flakes become larger and this level is believed to be including a charentien type Middle Palaeolithic. P.I.2 is the richest level in animal remains. Based on the animal bones found in piles; it is suggested that chamber B was used for butchering activities during this level [Yalçinkaya et al. 2003:164;165]. As a result of the preliminary studies on the animal remains found in chamber E; these species were determined: hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius); gaur (Bos primigenius); wild horse (Equus sp.); red deer (Cervus elaphus); Anatolian fallow deer (Dama dama); bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus); wild sheep (Ovis orientalis); wild boar (Sus scrofa); cave bear (Ursus spelaesus); panther (Pantera pardus); red fox (Vulpes vulpes); and tortoise (Testudo sp.). Besides these; birds; rodents; and crabs are represented in general categories [Yalçinkaya et al. 2002:165;166]. Fragments bearing the characteristics of Middle Palaeolithic Age were found in the lower sections; and also fragments bearing characteristics of Upper Palaeolithic Age were found in the upper sections of PIII; which characterizes the transition from the Middle Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic in the B Segment in 2005. The blades; blade preparation tools; flakes; crested pre-scrapers; along with Middle Palaeolithic scrapers; disc and Levallois flakes were revealed inside the level which may be called the transition level. Although very few Mousterien tips are also found [Yalçinkaya et al. 2007:547]. The 2014 studies carried out in Gallery E in III.5 and III.4 yielded a high density of Middle Palaeolithic finds. The excavations conducted in the main fill yielded typical or Karain type Mousterien finds. The most common tool is end scrapers. The points, denticulates and notches are among the tools. Among the chipped stone finds, the disc shaped and Levallois cores are noteworthy. The latest finds exhibit the development of the chipped stone industry. The faunal remains of geological unit IV.1 consist of large bones and a few teeth possibly belonging to bear. A small number of micro mammal remains was determined [Yalçinkaya et al. 2016:238-239]. In 2015, the excavations were carried out in Gallery E in the geological unit IV.3. It is seen that the most common finds are charantien pieces. Side scrapers on thick flakes, thick denticulated tools, an end scraper and cores in various forms were determined. The geological unit IV.2 yielded only four flakes. In the geological unit IV.1, there are various cores besides denticulated tools on flakes and side scrapers. Although amorphous radiolarite cores are common, there is also one Levallois core. A hammer was also found. In the geological unit III.5, on the other hand, mostly unretouched pieces were found. However, there are also side scrapers in good quality and denticulated tools. The cores are generally amorphous. Apart from these, two hammers were found. The geological unit III.4 yielded 16 knapped pieces in total. 14 of them are flakes, one is a retouched flake and the other one is a denticulated tool on thick flake. In the plan squares 18 and 19 (E, F, G, H), the finds are in high density. It is noteworthy that the finds indicating production such as cores, core pieces, technological pieces, and hammers increased in number. The cores and hammers found in the plan square 19 indicate that the area might have been used as a workshop. The faunal remains are in the highest density in the geological unit IV.1. The fossilized large mammal remains such as hippopotamus and cave bear indicate that this layer might be the elephant layer that was defined by I. Kiliç Kökten in 1957. The jackal and wild boar remains are among the important finds found in the geological unit IV.3 [Taskiran et al. 2017:525-527]. Lower Palaeolithic Small Finds: Analysis of the finds recovered during Kökten's excavation of Karain revealed that proto-Levallois and Levallois type tools were dominant among the Acheuleen chipped stone technology. The fact that proto-Levallois technique is common among the blades suggests that this technique began in the Lower Palaeolithic Period. In this period; side scrapers are quite common; while classic bifaces including oval and disc-shaped ones as well as two Micoquen types have also been found. The finds include points; backed knives; burins; notched; denticulated and beak-shaped tools. Choppers and axes are rare [Yalçinkaya 1989:92-106]. At Karain there was a Tayacien flake industry where small flakes were produced in the pre-Acheuleen layers. Side scrapers appear to be among the most common tools in this early industry where flakes and blades dominate. Points; knives; notched and denticulated tools; end scrapers; and borers are among the most common types. Although there are a few bifaces; Yalçinkaya believes that the forms do not resemble classic forms and further adds that they can hardly be considered bifaces [Yalçinkaya 1989:89-91]. Study of the Lower Palaeolithic finds; of which the majority have been knapped from flint; allowed the researchers to conclude that the Karain cultural tradition began with a pre-Acheuleen Tayacien industry followed by Middle and Late Acheuleen technologies. The excavations led by Yalçinkaya may alter this successive order. It was found during the excavations in 2005; that the amount of chip stone material is very low in the archaeological level 60; at the levels which are assumably of Lower Palaeolithic Age. On the other hand; there are significant finds at some of those levels; in terms of chip stone industries. Those are: 2 fragments of basanite knapped on both sides; 2 side scrapers on two large flakes; a retouched flake with a ridge flake; and 2 flakes in Tayacien style. Generally Karain Cave E segment represents more the technological characteristics of a flake industry towards the base. Very few of these flakes were shaped by retouches. Therefore the unretouched are often found. Besides that; the limestone found in upper levels is apparently a material used in the knapping process. It does not appear to be right to relate this matter to the raw material provision problems. Because there is plenty of basanite material in the immediate environment of Karain. But it is highly probable; that the Palaeolithic masters might have used the limestone; which is widely available as a natural resource in the environs [Yalçinkaya et al. 2007:542-543]. The Cave E excavation was performed at three plan squares in 2006 and 37 archaeological levels were excavated within 3 separate geological levels. The finds from the excavation at Cave E are represented by chipped stone objects. Among these radiolarite, flintstone, sylex clacker and clacker based base raw material categories were observed. Side scrapers, chipped stone fragments, cores, denticulated and notched tools were unearthed. The finds are evidence for the Clactonien and Tayacien industries' presence [Yalçinkaya et al. 2008:469-470]. The 2007 campaign in Cave E took place in 7 plan squares. 53 archaeological levels were dug on 4 different geological levels. Among the cave E excavation archaeological finds there are a few flakes and cores in geological level V1, flakes, cores, core fragments, some retouched pieces and side scrapers in level V2. Besides these one bifacial tool which is the most important find of 2007 Karain excavation was found in level V2. This find bears the Acheuleen characteristics, and it is one of the most important finds that was stratigraphically obtained of Anatolia [Yalçinkaya et al. 2009:287-288]. The 2008 campaign in Cave E took place in 2 plan squares and 3 different geological levels were dug. The densest chipped stone finds came out from geological level V2. Side scrapers on thick flakes, serrated and notched tools were the most typical examples among these finds. Together with the finds from 2007, an industry that contains a tradition of bifacial tools could be mentioned for the geological level V2. The elements of chipped stone industry concerning geological levels V3 and V4 were represented by a few numbers of flakes with archaic character, small sized side scrapers and a core [Yalçinkaya et al 2010:42-43]. In 2009 the Sub Palaeolithic Period industry is accessed from all Plan Squares that are excavated in Cell E. The industry is a little more intense in geological layers V.1, V.1.1, and V.1.2 in which no intact core is captured. It can be suggested that the various-sized chips are taken from cores not well prepared since they have a very archaic view and don't usually have any correction signs. The tools are very few as is the case in sculptured stone industry and they are made of side scrapers, serrated and notched tools. A piece is identified as the most interesting form in sculptured stone group which has regular extractions and partial corrections although looks like a piece of core. Bones from macro and micro fauna is captured in extractions in Cell E. The bones from macro fauna are usually broken into pieces. A large bone from geological layer V.1.2 is among the rare pieces which could survive to date [Yalçinkaya et al. 2011: 24-25]. In 2009 the faunal remains from Cell B are very diverse. When analyzed in general, it can be seen that herbivores such as sheep and goat are common while the remains also contain samples from birds and carnivores. On the other hand samples of mollusk remains and micro fauna samples are captured intensively [Yalçinkaya et al. 2011: 29]. Chipped stone fragments were found in Chamber E in 2010. It has been observed that radiolaritine and flint were used as the main raw material among these fragments. Between the excavated 3 geological units, V.1.2 has the highest density of material. The geological level V.2 yielded a few flakes. Very few of these flakes were shaped by retouches. All these finds bear most likely the characteristics of Lower Palaeolithic. Also, some broken bones were recovered in Chamber E. Bases on the teeth found together with the bones; it is suggested that these bones belong to same animal. During the Epipalaeolithic excavation carried out in Chamber B, flakes, blades and bladelets, end scrapers, cores, microliths, microgravettes and a perforator were found. The majority of the fauna remains found in Chamber B are fragmented. Among these remains, sheep and goat bones are common [Yalçinkaya et al. 2012:375-381]. The vast majority of the chipped stone industry finds found in 2011 consists of coarse, non-retouched flakes with large butts. Along with these, there are also retouched pieces, cores and knapping debitages. Among the retouched ones, side scrapers and retouched flakes are common. The radiolaritine were dominantly used as raw material. The 2012 excavations were carried out in the Gallery E and B. Gallery E yielded findings dated to the Lower Palaeolithic. Gallery E excavations conducted in 9 plan squares within 3 different geological levels. The hollows were encountered in the area in which the plan square K is located. The most striking hollow is the one located in the section where the plan squares J and K meet. This small hollow with a diameter of about 30-35 cm suggests that Gallery E opens to the other hollows. In the chipped stone industry found in Gallery E, radiolaritine was commonly used as raw material. Although it is rarely seen in the vicinity of Karain, flint was also used as raw material. A few limestone material was used as well. The chipped stone industry mainly consists of small sized retouched and non-retouched flakes, a few side scrapers, denticulated and notched tools and chips. Among the faunal remains, there are large sized mammal bones and teeth and bones belonging to predacious animals. A great number of micro faunal remains were recovered as well [Yalçinkaya et al. 2014]. During the 2013 studies carried out in Gallery E, finds dated to the Lower Palaeolithic were recovered. In Gallery E, five geological levels in total were excavated. In all geological levels, except V.1, unretouched flakes are common. These are generally small sized and large-butted. A few large flakes were found. Amorphous cores and core fragments were recovered. Among the retouched tools, retouched flakes are in high density. Almost in every geological level, knapping wastes and chips indicating knapping process were found. Faunal remains of 2013 consist of large mammal bones and teeth and bones belonging to predators. Micro faunal remains were found in high density in the geological levels V.1.2 and VI [Yalçinkaya et al. 2015:445].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating:


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