Philippine E-Journals

The Determination of the Settlement Density in West of Turkey, between 6000- 1200 B.C., According to Archaeological Findings

ÖZDEMIR KOÇAK | MUSTAFA BILGIN | HATICE GÜL KÜÇÜKBEZCI

 

Abstract:

This study investigates the characteristics of the 240 settlements in the West of Turkey dated back to 6000-1200 BC and our study, covers on these settlements. We aim to state the number of these mounds based on their periods, find out the variations in the number of the settlements in the process of time and determine the size and the geographical position of these settlements. In this respect, our main sources depend on the data obtained from the working sites and ancient written documents. Our main methodology is aimed at evaluating the mounds that have been discovered by us during the survey and archaeological remains found in these mounds. This study is a multidisciplinary study and the methodologies of Ancient History and Archeology sciences are used in this study. The main concept of this study is based on the ancient settlements of Central West Anatolia located in the Eastern Mediterranean. The findings are evaluated regarding historical and archeological aspects following a 13-year survey study. The Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements are regarded as small mounds, and the number is considered as low. The EBA settlements are in small size, but their number is increased by fourfold in comparison to the past. We have observed that these settlements were large towns in their time, and they were situated at junction points in a fertile field. The number of the settlements were decreased in the early years of the Second Millennium B.C. But the size of these settlements was enlarged. This growth based on the following reasons such as the development of the central administration, abandoning the small settlements and the development of the trade and crafts activities as well as the agricultural activities.