Konya Plain Research Articles

Magnetic Gradiometry Survey at the Urban Centre of Türkmen‐Karahöyük (Turkey)

ABSTRACTThe understanding of urban centres in the ancient Near East, one of the main regions for investigating the development of cities, has been transformed in recent years through investigations using archaeological geophysical prospection tools. This paper presents results of our recent magnetic gradiometry survey at the large urban site of Türkmen‐Karahöyük (Konya Plain, Turkey) conducted using a SENSYS Magneto MXPDA cart‐based system. Results of the survey have successfully identified and characterized numerous areas of ancient settlement, industrial activity and burials across the massive site, offering new insights into the history of occupation at Türkmen‐Karahöyük. Our findings are thereby helping to shape future investigations at the site and, more broadly, demonstrate the opportunities and challenges presented by cart‐based geophysical survey instruments for archaeological investigations of mounded urban sites with extensive lower towns.

Prediction of cadmium content using machine learning methods

Heavy metals are the most environmentally hazardous pollutions in agricultural soils, threatening humans and several ecosystem services. Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic element but distinctively different from other heavy metals with its high mobility in soil environments. The study aimed to evaluate the Cd concentration of soils in the Konya plain with a specific attribute to soil fertilization, mainly phosphorous fertilizers. A total of 538 surface (0–20 cm) soil samples were analyzed to determine basic physical and chemical properties and total phosphorus (P) and Cd concentrations. Descriptive statistics, machine learning, and regression models were used to assess the accumulation of Cd in soils. Decision Trees, Linear Regression, Random Forest, and XGBoost machine learning methods were used in Cd prediction. The XGBoost model proved to be the best prediction model, with a coefficient of determination of 98.1%. Electrical conductivity, pH, CaCO3, silt, and P were used in the Cd estimation of the XGBoost model and explained 56.51% of the total variance in relation to measured soil properties. The results revealed that a machine learning algorithm could be useful for estimating Cd concentration in soils using basic physical and chemical soil properties.

Palaeogenomic insights into the origins of early settlers on the island of Cyprus

Archaeological evidence supports sporadic seafaring visits to the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus by Epipaleolithic hunter-gatherers over 12,000 years ago, followed by permanent settlements during the early Neolithic. The geographical origins of these early seafarers have so far remained elusive. By systematically analysing all available genomes from the late Pleistocene to early Holocene Near East (c. 14,000–7000 cal BCE), we provide a comprehensive overview of the genetic landscape of the early Neolithic Fertile Crescent and Anatolia and infer the likely origins of three recently published genomes from Kissonerga-Mylouthkia (Cypriot Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, c. 7600–6800 cal BCE). These appear to derive roughly 80% of their ancestry from Aceramic Neolithic Central Anatolians residing in or near the Konya plain, and the remainder from a genetically basal Levantine population. Based on genome-wide weighted ancestry covariance analysis, we infer that this admixture event took place roughly between 14,000 and 10,000 BCE, coinciding with the transition from the Cypriot late Epipaleolithic to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA). Additionally, we identify strong genetic affinities between the examined Cypro-LPPNB individuals and later northwestern Anatolians and the earliest European Neolithic farmers. Our results inform archaeological evidence on prehistoric demographic processes in the Eastern Mediterranean, providing important insights into early seafaring, maritime connections, and insular settlement.

Analysing the Effect of Konya Plain Project on Employment Using Difference in Differences Method: The Case of Konya and Karaman

Amaç: Çalışma, Türkiye’de en önemli bölgesel kalkınma projelerinden olan Konya Ovası Projesi’nin (KOP) Konya ve Karaman’da istihdam göstergeleri üzerindeki etkisini analiz etmeyi amaçlamıştır. KOP bölgesinin sahip olduğu karasal iklim yazın yağışların son derece az olmasını tetiklemekte ve bölge tarımının önünde bir engel oluşturmaktadır. KOP’un ana hedeflerinden biri bölgede etkin bir sulama ağını kurmak ve mevcut sulama sistemlerini iyileştirmektir. KOP sulama sistemlerini iyileştirmenin yanı sıra bölgenin alt yapısı ve istihdam imkanlarını geliştirmek gibi sosyo-ekonomik yapısını canlandıracak projeleri de faaliyete geçirmiştir. Tüm bu iyileştirmelerin ve projelerin doğrudan veya dolaylı olarak bölge istihdamını etkileme potansiyeli araştırılmıştır.
 Tasarım/Metodoloji/Yaklaşım: “Farkların Farkı” ve “Eğilim Skoru Eşleştirme” yöntemleri kullanılarak 2008 ve 2017 yılları arası KOP’un Konya ve Karaman’a ait istihdam göstergeleri üzerindeki etkisi ampirik olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Analizlerde TÜİK Hanehalkı İşgücü Anketi havuzlanmış yatay kesit mikro veri seti kullanılmıştır. 
 Bulgular: Sonuçlar KOP’un illerdeki tarım sektörü istihdamı üzerinde anlamlı ve pozitif bir etkisinin olduğunu ancak etkinin diğer sektörlerdeki istihdamı artıracak şekilde yaygın olmadığını göstermektedir. Özellikle tarım sektöründeki sürekli istihdam için bulunan bulgular tarımda çalışan bireylerin istihdam düzeyini KOP sayesinde koruduğunu göstermiştir. Günümüzde tarım işçiliğini bırakarak kırsal kesimden kente göçlerin artmasına KOP gibi politikalarla engel olunabileceği çalışmanın politika önerileri arasındadır.
 Özgünlük/Değer: Türkiye’de Konya Ovası Projesi’nin istihdam göstergeleri üzerine etkisi literatürde daha önce ele alınmamıştır. Bu bağlamda çalışma ilgili yazına katkı sunacak özgünlüktedir.

Interior Arrangement in Children Libraries during the Covid 19 Pandemic Process: The Example of Konya Seljuk Municipality KPP Children s Library

The aim of this study is to analyse the compliance of the Seljuk Municipality Konya Plain Project Children's Library in Konya, Turkey with the design principles in line with the recommendations of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. This descriptive study, which aims to analyse Konya Plain Project Children Library from a spatial point of view, was conducted according to the case study from qualitative research methods. In this study, the physical, ergonomic, and social suitability of the library was evaluated by photographing technique by making observations and measurements, presented with visual materials and the inadequacies in its structure were revealed. The fact that the building was designed as a municipal building and later converted into a library caused some of the parameters recommended by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions to not meet sufficiently. The fact that the library is located on the third floor has limited its relationship with the environment, its location in the centre of the city and on a noisy street, and the inability to control the sound in the study rooms have increased the noise level. The natural lighting of the library is determined to be uncontrolled and insufficient. It was determined that there were no building elements to control the sun, direction finding signs and a care room for babies or children. In addition, it was determined that ergonomic criteria were ignored in the design of the space. As a result of this study, it was determined that the Konya Plain Project Children's Library should be redesigned in terms of location, noise level, natural and artificial lighting, signage and wayfinding signs, child or baby care room. In addition, it has been determined that comfort and aesthetic elements have been at the forefront of the Konya Plain Project Children's Library, and it has been tried to keep up with the requirements of technology institutionally. Space design has been emphasized and suggestions have been developed in order to increase the use of children's libraries and to make the service appealing to wider audiences.

Zooplankton Fauna and Seasonal Changes of Two Karstic Sinkhole Lakes: Meyil and Kızören (Konya/Türkiye)

Meyil and Kızören sinkholes are large karstic formations located in the Konya plain, Türkiye. Seasonal distribution of planktonic community of these two karstic lakes have yet to be studied. In this study, samples were collected from pelagic station in different seasonal periods (March-July-October 2018) and their physico-chemical parameters were determined and evaluated with seasonal species composition. As a result, fourty zooplankton species were identified in the two lakes, amongst which are thirty-four rotifers, five cladocerans and one copepod. Rotifers were founded as the dominant group for both lakes. All species identified as a new record for Meyil and Kızören sinkhole lakes. Furthermore, this study contributes to the literature by explaining the first detailed data for zooplankton fauna of sinkhole lakes in Türkiye as of the sampling date.

An archaeometric study of the Konya basin metallic ware through FTIR and XRD analysis with chemometrics: Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age ceramics

AbstractFourier‐transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction and chemometrics were used to characterize the mineralogical composition and firing conditions of 59 Early Bronze Age ceramic sherds from the Konya Plain (Turkey). These include the Konya Basin Metallic Ware (KBMW) and a control group of contemporary local products. The analysis indicates significant differences in mineral inclusions and firing temperatures, with KBMW generally being fired above 800°C and characterized by standardized fabric recipes. Assessed together with other published evidence, these results indicate a high degree of specialization in the production of KBMW ceramic assemblages in central Anatolia during the third millennium BCE.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and trace element of geothermal systems in Central Anatolia, Turkey

Located on the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt, Turkey has an outstanding geothermal potential due to geothermal systems developed by young tectonic and volcanic activity. In particular, Central Anatolia is Turkey's geopolitical region with the second-greatest potential in terms of geothermal resources. In a contribution to hydrogeochemical studies performed in a limited part of Central Anatolia, we designed a study to determine the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical properties of the geothermal fields located in provinces within the region's Konya Plain Project (KOP)-Aksaray, Karaman, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Konya, Niğde, Nevşehir and Yozgat-which collectively occupy 12.2% of Turkey's total area and contain 39 geothermal fields. In the study area, geothermal fluids are used for tourism, greenhouse cultivation, city heating and industrial purposes, and the outlet temperatures of thermal waters were recorded to range from 21.0 to 105.5 °C. In the study area, there are four different water types as (i) CaMgHCO3, CaHCO3, (ii) CaNaHCO3Cl, (iii) NaCaClSO4 and (iv) NaCl and reservoir rocks were generally Palaeozoic metamorphic (i.e. marble) and/or igneous (i.e. granodiorite, granite and rhyolites). Chemical geothermometers (i.e. cation and silica) were used to determine the reservoir temperature of the geothermal waters.

Field Water Management for Saving Water in Water-Starved Environments Such As Konya Plain, Türkiye

Field Water Management for Saving Water in Water-Starved Environments Such As Konya Plain, Türkiye

On the Identity of Hartapu

AbstractThe recent discovery of the Hieroglyphic Luwian inscription of TÜRKMEN-KARAHÖYÜK 1 in the Konya Plain (Turkey) has sparked a debate regarding its author, Great King Hartapu, the dates of his rule, and his role in the political geography of south-central Anatolia. Several authors now propose that two kings of the same name may have reigned at different times in the same region. This paper proposes a textual analysis of all the Hartapu inscriptions, together with an assessment of the archaeological and historical contexts in which they were found. In light of this, we argue that only one individual called Hartapu was responsible for the whole corpus and that he reigned during the Middle Iron Age, likely in the 8thcentury BCE.

Searching for pathways of sustainable water management on the Konya plain

Searching for pathways of sustainable water management on the Konya plain

Water management and resilience-building on the Konya plain

Water management and resilience-building on the Konya plain

Use of geothermal resources in Konya Plain Project (KOP) Region for tourism, health purposes, agricultural, industrial and distict heating

This study has been prepared in accordance with the objectives of evaluating and developing geothermal resources in order to bring the geothermal resources in the Konya Plain Project (KOP) Region, which includes Aksaray, Kırşehir, Konya, Nevşehir, Niğde and Yozgat provinces, to the country?s economy with maximum capacity, and to develop proposals for investments to be made. The number of overnight stays and the number of tourists outside the region should be increased by utilizing alternative tourism opportunities in the region. Their use in terms of geothermal energy, tourism and health has an important investment and income potential for the region. It has been determined by the laboratory results that the contents of thermal waters have inductions against many diseases. New investment projects have been recommended with the strategy of highlighting different practices in different provinces within the KOP Region. In this respect, each province and region within each province were evaluated separately, and suggestions suitable for their strategic positioning were presented. In addition, rather than offering new thermal accommodation facilities, modernization of existing facilities or businesses and infrastructures that offer services that all facilities can benefit from are proposed. However, it was seen that there was a need for accommodation capacity and new business models in some regions and suggestions were made accordingly.

The Species and Intensities of Weed Seeds Obtained from Wheat Flour Mill Plants in Turkey

Wheat production is more than 10% is in first place with potential in Konya plain of Turkey. Weed seeds mixed crop seeds cause quality and yield losses on production. This research was carried out to determine the species, intensity and frequency of weed seeds obtained from flour mill plants operating in Konya. Samples were taken from the 15 flour mill plants with working high capacity in the region. Identification of the weed seeds species in the sample was made. Comparison was made with live materials and reference documents by examining the seeds under a binocular while diagnosis of species. Also, the intensity and frequency of the species contaminated in wheat were determined. As a result of the study, 79 weed seed species belonging to 19 different families were identified. The species of families the most inclusive were Poaceae with 14 species and Leguminosae with 13 species. In order to determine intensity and frequency of species, weed seeds counted by hand, weighed in scale were recorded in laboratory. The highest weed seeds intensity as number and weight among the species were determined Galium tricornutum (rough bedstraw) with 16.16% and Aegilops cylindrica (jointed goatgrass) with 21.22% respectively. About the frequency of species, the most frequent species was Convolvulus arvensis (field bindweed) with 100%.

The response of dry bean to water stress at various growth cycles in a semi-arid region

Poor irrigation management is resulted from some reasons such as lack of information relevant to the crop water use. That kind of information is necessarily prerequisites for both planners and producers to obtain irrigation program to minimize the yield losses under water stress conditions. A two-year, 2013-2014 growing season, field experiment was performed to determine the response of dry bean to the water deficiency in different growth stages at Konya plain of Turkey. The study was organized as randomized complete block design with three replications. Vegetative (V), reproductive (R), and pod filling-maturation (P) three plant growth cycles as were examined with including rain-fed total eight irrigation treatments were researched. A 100% crop water requirement (VRP) was considered full-irrigation treatment. Irrigation was not performed during vegetative, reproductive, and pod filling-maturation cycles or during a combination of those stages in other treatments. In results, depending on the irrigation treatments, actual evapotranspiration (ETa) for 2013 and 2014 varied from 104 to 544 mm and from 110 to 558 mm, respectively. The average crop coefficients ( K c ) among the years were 0.75 for vegetative, 1.01 for reproductive, and 0.82 for pod filling-maturation stages. Depending on irrigation time, as decreasing the irrigation water resulted reducing seed yield. It was obvious that higher seed yield as well as yield components obtained full irrigation at entire growing season, which was preferable. An alternative to full irrigation in whole growth stages particularly in areas with insufficient water resources, performing full irrigation till initial of the filling-maturation cycle and then ending irrigation can be highly recommended as ideal, as it resulted water saving of 38%, and rise 27% in irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) as well as 20% seed yield loss by comparison to full irrigation.

Impact of different rootstocks and limited water on yield and fruit quality of melon grown in a field naturally infested with Fusarium wilt

1- Grafting and rootstock-scion combinations affect fruit yield. 2- The yield increased with increasing the mean fruit weight, yield per plant and number of fruits per plant. 2- Grafting plants had a significant positive effect on fruit quality. 3- The mineral concentrations of melon-grafted plants are higher than those of non-grafted plants throughout the growth period. 4- The low soil moisture and not to graft for Fusarium wilt disease promotes the growth of the pathogen and the emergence of wilt symptoms. The experiment was performed to determine the effects of different rootstocks on yield and some fruit quality characteristics of grafted melon growth under the soil-borne pathogen ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis ) and water stress conditions in 2019-2020, at Cumra in Konya Plain, Turkey. In the study, four different Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata hybrids rootstocks were used: 1-Non-grafted, 2-Ferro, 3-Maximus, and TZ 148. Edalı F 1 variety ( Cucumis melo var. Edalı F 1 ) was selected as a scion. Cotyledon splice grafting was used as the grafting method. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots constituted of three irrigation levels while the subplots were designed to have different rootstocks. Irrigation was supplied during the appropriate crop development stages (early vegetative, late vegetative, flowered-fruit setting and ripening) with enough water to fill the soil depth of 0–90 cm to field capacity (I100), to 50% of field capacity (I50) with decreased water supply levels and water-free (I0) conditions. As a result, it was found that yield and some fruit quality parameters were significantly affected by the treatments. The rootstocks were similarly effective on soil-borne pathogen management and resulted in yields higher than non-grafted plants in the both years. The highest yield (4.939–3.604 t da−1) was obtained under no water stress I100 / TZ148 rootstock combination (p<0.01). Other macro-micro nutrient and fruit sugar contents were significantly affected by treatments. The seasonal water consumptive use (ET) at I100 treatment was recorded as 205 and 231 mm, respectively, for the both years.

A stable isotope and functional weed ecology investigation into Chalcolithic cultivation practices in Central Anatolia: Çatalhöyük, Çamlıbel Tarlası and Kuruçay

The integration of stable isotope analysis of crop remains with the ecological analysis of archaeological weed flora allows for a detailed reconstruction of crop husbandry and arable growing conditions. This paper presents the first such study for developed Neolithic and Chalcolithic Central Anatolia, exploring crop husbandry at the large (8 ha) early 6th millennium BC site of Çatalhöyük West and the last phases of the preceding Neolithic Çatalhöyük East, located on the western end of the Konya Plain, and the small 4th millennium sites of Çamlıbel Tarlası (0.25 ha), located in the loop of the Kızılırmak river, and Kuruçay Höyük (~1 ha), located on the shore of Lake Burdur. The results reveal the mosaic nature of Çatalhöyük cultivation; the complex ecosystem, naturally 15N enriched, was additionally anthropogenically improved, while inhabitants also chose to cultivate barley in drier conditions to the wheats and pulses. The smaller, Late Chalcolithic site of Çamlıbel Tarlası cultivated each individual crop species in variable conditions instead of selecting a specific species for cultivation in drier or wetter conditions. Each single species was cultivated in conditions with a wide range of water availabilities while receiving low-level manure application. Variation in water availability is possibly a consequence of the variable topography surrounding the site, with the hills potentially used for cultivation, providing a wide range of conditions due to their slope. Functional weed ecology complements the isotopic data, indicating the wider range of cultivation intensities surrounding Çatalhöyük West, compared with more consistent, narrower ranges of growing conditions at Çamlıbel Tarlası and Kuruçay Höyük. Settlement date, site size and environment seem to be key contributing factors shaping the method used to cultivate crops at these Chalcolithic sites. The larger, earlier community of Çatalhöyük West, located in a complex riverine ecosystem around the dryland anabranching channels of the Çarşamba river, cultivated species in different conditions and maintained a range of crop husbandry intensities, potentially reflecting differential access to limited resources. The smaller Late Chalcolithic sites, with communities consisting of one household to several households and located in less complex ecosystems with higher precipitation, maintained more stable crop growing conditions and management intensities. This is plausibly a consequence of equal access and sharing of critical resources for crop cultivation, such as labour, manure and land, coupled with the adequate precipitation rates.

Book Review

Chris Doherty’s study focuses on the role of clay in the development of Çatalhöyük, the famous and largest Neolithic settlement in the Konya Plain in central Anatolia. The author offers a holistic approach to understand the interrelationship between all clay materials used at the site and the landscape. Çatalhöyük lies on the clay-rich bed of the former Pleistocene Lake Konya, which lacked local sources of stone, and this makes its position interesting as clay plays a dual role here, i.e. as the main landscape component and a raw material for different types of material culture at the site. The book is divided into 10 chapters and is supported with many illustrative figures and tables.

Preliminary Report on the Seventh Season of the Konya Ereğli, Karapınar, Halkapınar and Emirgazi Survey Project (KEYAR) 2019

The Konya Ereğli Survey Project (KEYAR) started in 2013 with the aim to systematically survey the southeastern provinces of the Konya plain, which are Ereğli, Karapınar, Emirgazi and Halkapınar with a focus on Bronze and Iron Age settlements, structures and monuments. Between 2013-2018 the districts of Ereğli, Halkapınar, Emirgazi had been systematically surveyed, along with parts of Karapınar (Maner, 2017; 2019).1 In total seventy-six settlements, two tumuli and one cave have been identified, systematically surveyed and investigated (Fig. 1). The 2019 field season of KEYAR took place between 16-29 May 2019. In the past field seasons, it was not really possible to take drone images of the surveyed sites, mainly due to climatic reasons such as strong wind, clouds, rain and alas broken drones. Hence one of the major tasks of this season was to go back to previously surveyed sites and complete the missing drone images. The survey was conducted during the second half of May, which turned out to be not an ideal season for surveying. Due to heavy rainfall in the previous months, wild vegetation covered the ground and the archaeological sites, which made the designation of shards very difficult.

Anatolian Pot Marks in the 3rd Millennium BC: Signage, Early State Formation, and Organization of Production

This study presents new information and interpretation of pot marks applied specifically on “Anatolian Metallic Ware” that are dated to the 3rd millennium BC, and distributed in the southern Konya Plain and the southwestern region of Cappadocia. While many specialists have studied this ware group, also referred to as “Darboğaz” vessels, detailed studies have not been conducted on the pot marks themselves. The finds from the Göltepe excavations, when combined with other research data and ethnographic/ethnoarchaeological records, have helped to classify and interpret this signage. According to our preliminary results, there is no relationship between the pot marks and vessel type, sub-ware group, or ownership. Taking into account the general characteristics of the Anatolian EBA and the production techniques of Anatolian Metallic Ware, we discuss whether the pot marks reflect quality control over the production process and serve interregional connectivity.