Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:49 AM Sayfa
Prehistoric Periods in Anatolia
The Palaeolithic Age (250,000-10,000 BC)
The Palaeolithic Age, also known as the Old Stone Age, is the oldest
and longest period of humanity’s history. Humans in this period first
used caves and rock shelters as their dwellings. During this period,
when hunting and gathering economy prevailed, early humans strived
to facilitate their lives through the simple tools they made of small
stones.
This age is studied under three development stages as the Lower,
Middle and Upper Palaeolithic Age. The oldest settlement in Anatolia
dating to this age is Yar›mburgaz Cave near Küçükçekmece Lake,
starting from the Lower Palaeolithic Age and continuing until the
Roman and Byzantine Periods. The very primitive flint stones and
mammals bones found in this cave consisting of 16 layers, are
important artifacts of the Lower Palaeolithic Age. Karain Cave,
situated about 30 km. to the south west of Antalya, is a significant place
of settlement in Anatolia after Yar›mburgaz. Eight layers from the end
of the Lower Palaeolithic Age to the Roman Age have been uncovered
in this cave, which provided shelter at every stage due to its location.
A stove and some firewood remnants belonging to the Middle
Palaeolithic Age show that these people discovered fire and cooked.
Traces of animals such as bison, oxen, horses, deer, cows, pigs and
bears are indicators that they mastered hunting.
The Upper Palaeolithic Period was a scene to a cold climate and
despite its short duration, brought about some development. Within
this period, human being with characteristics of their modern-day
counterparts-namely a thinking type of human being-appeared.
They made tools such as needles and awls from bones. They engaged
in some new artistic endeavors such as adorning the walls of Karain
and Öküzini Caves around Antalya with the pictures of animals they
saw including goats and deer. They also created illustrations on top of
small stones found in Beldibi Cave with the scraping technique. In
Anatolia, illustrations belonging to this period can also be seen in
Ad›yaman Palanl›, Kars Çamufllu, Tirflin Plateau in Hakkari and on the
Cilo Mountains. Many samples of this age are also found in places other
than Anatolia.
5