Animal Bones from Aşıklı Hüyük

Abstract

Aşıklı Hüyük, a large Aceramic Neolithic mound in the Melendizsuyu valley, some 25 km. SE of Aksaray (prov. Niğde), was visited in 1964 by Ian Todd, who collected a very large quantity of obsidian tools and flakes from the surface, and, at the same time, was able to collect samples including animal bones, charcoal and seeds from a large section cut by the river into the side of the mound (Todd 1966). The obsidian industry suggested a date earlier than Çatal Hüyük East, and this was confirmed by a series of five14C dates between 7008±130 bc and 6661±108 bc (using the 5568±30 yr half-life) (Todd 1968, Stuckenrath and Lawn 1969). The site is therefore of great interest, being one of the earliest mound sites in Turkey. Its size (c.250 m. across and 8 m. in height) suggests a lengthy permanent settlement; its location is well-suited for agriculture and animal husbandry (Todd 1980).