Bir adam kendisine çocuk veren kadından ayrılmak isterse ... - MÜZE

found evidence that permanent human settlements with religious ritual
and social complexity existed even before the era of agriculture and
animal domestication. Earliest signs of the existence of social hierarchy
and individuality besides common values, significant original findings
with respect to the era and human history characterize Körtik Tepe.
Also were found clues as to the existence of a “Fatherly God” ritual in
this area, as opposed to the Mother Goddess figure largely prevailing
among Neolithic Age societies.
Dr. AYDIN: What is the date of the earliest period reached at Körtik
Tepe? Is Körtik Tepe an earlier settlement compared to Göbeklitepe?
Prof. Dr. ÖZKAYA: Analytical methods and data were used in determining
the date of each layer reached at Körtik Tepe. Although we did
not yet secure exhaustive results concerning the deepest layers, we can
affirm, based on C14 analyses, that the settlement is dated 10.400 BC.
There are serious indications that it might be even older; but it would
be too early to pronounce exact figures at this stage. There is no doubt
that Körtik Tepe is an older settlement than Göbeklitepe. But beyond
its oldness, the relevance of Körtik Tepe as a valuable source of science
lies in its contribution to the perception of the cultural texture, to the
understanding of the era and the origin of Mesopotamian cultures as
nucleus of civilization.
Dr. AYDIN: There is an argument that “salvage” or “rescue” excavations
should not be undertaken at all and, that even if the area is filled by a
dam reservoir, the site will remain intact under water. Is it possible to
say that the Körtik Tepe mound was entirely uncovered and its excavation
completed?
Prof. Dr. ÖZKAYA: What is the benefit of an archive remaining under
water and locked to everyone, particularly if that archive is a knowledge
source of great interest to mankind? Dam projects are a threat to cultural
heritage but, at the same time, it is incumbent upon us to translate
this threat into a chance to salvage cultural and historical assets. I
believe that Körtik Tepe excavations offer a great chance in that sense.
Dr. AYDIN: Could the northern extension of the Fertile Crescent be the
arena of history’s earliest settlement? How should Turkey approach this
prospect?
Prof. Dr. ÖZKAYA: There is no doubt that the Fertile Crescent is the
core and birth place of mankind’s civilization. It is the home of the
earliest worship rituals. Anatolia’s shareholding in this context was not
recognized up until recently. However, it is now a proven fact that the
Anatolian extension of the Fertile Crescent at the Upper Tigris Valley
was home to some of the oldest human settlements in conjunction with
the Fertile Crescent itself. Thanks to the archaeological work at Körtik
Tepe and the other settlements of the same era in this geography, we
learned that during approximately the same historical period, an even
Körtik Tepe kazısında bulunan taş ve kemik aletler, takılar, figürlü ritüel taş objeler
ve yontma taş kaplar (üstte). Körtik Tepe kazısından görünüm, yuvarlak planlı yapı
(altta ortada) ve dibek taşı (altta sağda).
Stone and bone tools, ornaments, figurative ritual objects and carved stone vessels
(above). View of the Körtik Tepe excavation area, round-shaped structure (centre
below) and stone mortar (below right).
more developed human settlement
concept based on a more
advanced cultural background was
present there.
Dr. AYDIN: Why were the houses
built in circular shape and which
elements related to agriculture,
stock breeding, storage methods
and fishing did you discover at
Körtik Tepe?
Prof. Dr. ÖZKAYA: Körtik Tepe
was a settlement established independently from agriculture and
animal breeding; that constitutes its particular aspect which led to a
revision of previous theories. Fishing was an indispensible source of
nutrition. Our archeobotanic research revealed that Körtik Tepe people
were picking a rich variety of vegetal foods from nature and water
sources. Our archeozoological research revealed that hunting was a
major nutrimental source for them as well. Nutrition habits were not
in the form of a daily and communal supply, but based on individual
meals and individual storage of foodstuffs, similar to developed human
societies.
Houses were built in circular shape as in the case of most of the known
earlier human settlements. Living examples of that type of housing can
be found today in African pastoral communities. That shape is apparently
easier to build and offers a practical solution to upper structure
construction problems.
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