©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project


Asarkaya

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Asarkaya
Type:
Flat Settlement
Altitude:
965 m
Region:
Aegean
Province:
Kütahya
District:
Merkez
Village:
Sabuncu
Investigation Method:
Survey
Period:
Ceramic

     


Location: This site lies northeast of the city of Kütahya; 2 km south of the town of Sabuncular; in the area known as Asarkaya.
Geography and Environment: The geographical information provided by the researcher indicates that Asarkaya is a rock outcrop which lies on the northwestern skirts of Mount Türkmen. The finds were found on a slope of the rock outcrop and on the flat area beside it. The region is abundant in natural caves; which must have been attractive shelters for the first producers.
History:
Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1988-89 by Turan Efe during the survey he conducted of the Kütahya-Eskisehir Region. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy:
Small Finds: Pottery: Efe reports that he found the upper profile section of a spherical vessel with an inverted rim and with lips distinguished from the rest of the vessel [Efe 1995b:108]. A similar example was found at Demirhöyük (in Eskisehir); among Early Bronze Age pottery. Chipped Stone: The survey yielded end/side scrapers with steeply retouched edges; discoid scrapers and blades. The tools are reported to have Epipalaeolithic qualities.
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: This site; which has been published in TAY 1 as an Epipalaeolithic-Aceramic Neolithic site; has recently; in the latest publications; been referred to as the earliest Ceramic Neolithic site in the central northwestern and central Aegean Region. This interpretation is open to much debate. The fact that the Epipalaeolithic tradition of the chipped stone tools was also found at Fikirtepe; another site in the region; strengthens this claim.


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