Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A graphical simulation of the 2,000-year lag in Neolithic occupation between Central Anatolia and the Aegean basin

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current distribution of radiocarbon dates for the Neolithic in the Anatolian peninsula indicates a significant time lag, of up to 2,000 calibrated years at two standard deviations, between the start of Neolithic occupation on the central Anatolian plateau and in the Aegean basin. This chronological discrepancy appears to match that existing between later aceramic societies in Central Anatolia and Early Neolithic societies in Greece—suggesting that the region now referred to as Western Anatolia, including the Pisidian Lake District, the Eastern Marmara and the Aegean coast, was part of a much broader horizon of Neolithic expansion, extending across the whole of the Aegean basin up to Thrace. This article provides a graphical simulation of the chronological imbalance in the radiometric dates, based on a sample of 848 uniformly recalibrated 14C dates from 59 sites. The evidence supports a model in which the westward spread of farming was punctuated by major ‘halts’, one of which occurred in the highlands of Anatolia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ammerman AJ, Cavalli-Sforza LL (1984) The Neolithic transition and the genetics of populations in Europe. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Baird D (1996) The Konya Plain Survey: aims and methods. In: Hodder I (ed) On the surface; Çatalhöyük 1993–5. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Cambridge, pp 41–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird D (2010) The Boncuklu Project: investigating the beginnings of agriculture, sedentism and herding in central Anatolia. Anatol Archaeol 16:9–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird D, Carruthers D, Fairbairn A, Pearson J (2011) Ritual in the landscape: evidence from Pınarbaşı in the seventh-millennium cal BC Konya Plain. Antiquity 85:380–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bittel K (1971) Bemerkungen über die prähistorische Ansiedlung auf dem Fikirtepe bei Kadıköy (Istanbul). Istanbul Mitt 19(20):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocquet-Appel J-P (2011) The agricultural demographic transition during and after the agriculture inventions. Curr Anthropol 52(S4):S497–S510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocquet-Appel J-P, Bar-Yosef O (2008) The Neolithic demographic transition and its consequences. Springer, Dordrecht

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bocquet-Appel J-P, Naji S, Vander Linden M, Kozlowski JK (2009) Detection of diffusion and contact zones of early farming in Europe from the space-time distribution of 14C dates. J Archaeol Sci 36:807–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhner U, Schyle D (2008) Radiocarbon CONTEXT Database 2002–2006. doi:10.1594/GFZ.CONTEXT.Ed1

  • Brami MN, Heyd V (2011) The origins of Europe’s first farmers: the role of Hacılar and Western Anatolia, fifty years on. Prähist Z 86(2):165–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronk Ramsey C (2013) OxCal Program, version 4.2 (http://c14.arch.ox.ac.uk/oxcal.html), Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, University of Oxford

  • Cessford C (2001) A new dating sequence for Çatalhöyük. Antiquity 75:717–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Childe VG (1950) Prehistoric migrations in Europe. H Aschehoug & Co, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Çilingiroğlu A, Derin Z, Abay E, Sağlamtimur H, sKayan I (2004) Ulucak Höyük. Excavations conducted between 1995 and 2002, Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement 15. Peeters, Louvain

  • Çilingiroğlu Ç (2009) Central-West Anatolia at the end of 7th and beginning of 6th Millennium BCE in the light of pottery from Ulucak (Izmir). http://tobias-lib.unituebingen.de/volltexte/2009/4278/pdf/Diss_Cilingiroglu_1.pdf. Accessed 18 March 2010

  • Çilingiroğlu Ç (2012) The Neolithic pottery of Ulucak in Aegean Turkey. Organization of production, interregional comparisons and relative chronology. BAR Int. Series 2426, Oxford

  • Çilingiroğlu A, Çevik Ö, Çilingiroğlu Ç (2012) Ulucak Höyük. Towards understanding the early farming communities of Middle West Anatolia: the contribution of Ulucak. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey. New excavations & new research. Volume 4. Western Turkey. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 139–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Clare L, Weninger B (2014) The dispersal of Neolithic lifeways: absolute chronology and rapid climate change. In: Özdoğan M, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey, new excavations and new research, vol 6. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Colledge S, Conolly J (2007) The origins and spread of domestic plants in Southwest Asia and Europe. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek

    Google Scholar 

  • Colledge S, Conolly J, Shennan S (2004) Archaeobotanical evidence for the spread of farming in the Eastern Mediterranean. Curr Anthropol 45:S35–S58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colledge S, Conolly J, Dobney K, Manning K, Shennan S (2013) The origins and spread of domestic animals in Southwest Asia and Europe, Institute of Archaeology Publications 59. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek

    Google Scholar 

  • Derin Z (2005) The Neolithic architecture of Ulucak Höyük. In: Lichter C (ed) BYZAS 2. How did farming reach Europe? Anatolian-European relations from the second half of the 7th through the first half of the 6th millennium cal BC. Proceedings of the International Workshop, Istanbul, 20–22 May 2004 Ege Yayınları, Istanbul, pp 85–94

  • Derin Z (2012) Yeşilova Höyük. In: OzdoGan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey. New excavations & new research. Volume 4. Western Turkey. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 177–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Düring BS (2013) Breaking the bond: investigating the Neolithic expansion in Asia Minor in the seventh millennium BC. J World Prehist 26:75–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duru R (1994) Kuruçay Höyük I. 1978–1988 kazılarının sonuçları Neolitik ve Erken Kalkolitik çağ yerleşmeleri/results of the excavations 1978–1988. The Neolithic and early Chalcolithic periods. Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi, Ankara

  • Duru R (2003) Bademağacı kazilari 2000 ve 2001 yillari çalişma raporu. Belleten LXV(246) : 549–594

  • Duru R (2003b) Bademağacı kazıları 2000 ve 2001 yılları çalışma raporu’. Belleten LXV(246):549–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Duru R (2007) Göller Bölgesi Neolitiği : Hacılar – Kuruçay Höyüğü – Höyücek – Bademağacı Höyüğü. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N (eds) Anadolu’da uygarlığın doğuşu ve Avrupa’ya yayılımı. Türkiye’de Neolitik dönem. Yeni kazılar – yeni nulgular. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları, Istanbul, pp 331–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Duru R (2008) From 8000 BC to 2000 BC. Six thousand years of the Burdur-Antalya region. Suna-İnan Kıraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations, Antalya

    Google Scholar 

  • Duru R (2012) The Neolithic of the Lakes Region. Hacılar – Kuruçay Höyük – Höyücek – Bademağacı Höyük. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey. New excavations & new research. Volume 4. Western Turkey. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 1–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Duru R, Umurtak G (2005) Höyücek. 1989–1992 yılları arasinda yapilan kazilarin sonuçlari/Results of the excavations 1989–1992. Türk Tarih Kurumu, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Efe T, Gatsov I, Nedelcheva P (2012) Keçiçayırı. A Neolithic Settlement near Seyitgazi, Eskişehir. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey, new excavations and new research, vol 4. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 227–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Facorellis Y, Kyparissi-Apostolika N, Maniatis Y (2001) The Cave of Theopetra, Kalambaka: radiocarbon evidence for 50,000 years of human presence. Radiocarbon 43(2B):1029–1048

    Google Scholar 

  • Forenbaher S, Miracle PT (2006) The spread of farming in the Eastern Adriatic. Doc Praehist XXXIII:89–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gérard F, Thissen L (2002) The Neolithic of Central Anatolia: internal developments and external relations during the 9th–6th millenia cal BC. Ege Yayinlari, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerritsen FA, Özbal R, Thissen L (2013) Barcιn Höyük ve Marmara bölgesi’nde tarιmιn başlangιcι. Arkeol Sanat 143:51–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Gronenborn D (2007) Beyond the models: ‘Neolithisation’ in Central Europe. In: Whittle AWR, Cummings V (eds) Going over: the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in north-west Europe. Proceedings of the British Academy, vol 144. Oxford University Press, London, pp 73–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Horejs B (2008) Erster Vorbericht zu den Kampagnen 2006 und 2007 am Çukuriçi Höyük bei Ephesos. Jahreshefte Österr Archäol Inst 77:91–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Horejs B (2012) Çukuriçi Höyük. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey. New excavations & new research. Volume 4. Western Turkey. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 117–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Karul N (2009) Bursa Aktopraklιk Höyük’te tarih öncesinin ilk tarımcıları keşfediliyor. Aktüel Arkeoloji 10:54–68

  • Karul N (2011) The emergence of Neolithic life in South and East Marmara Region. In: Krauß R (ed) Beginnings—new research in the appearance of the Neolithic between Northwest Anatolia and the Carpathian Basin. Papers of the International Workshop. 8th–9th April 2009. VML, Istanbul, pp 57–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Karul N, Avcı MB (2011) Neolithic communities in the Eastern Marmara region: Aktopraklık C. Anatolica XXXVII:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kızıltan Z (2010) Excavations at Yenikapı, Sirkeci and Üsküdar within Marmaray and Metro Projects. In: Kocabaş U (ed) Istanbul Archaeological Museums. Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Marmaray-Metro Salvage Excavations 5th–6th May 2008. Arkeoloji Müzeleri Müdürlüğü, Istanbul, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Kızıltan Z, Polat MA (2013) Yenikapι kazιlarι: Neolitik dönem çalιşmalarι. Arkeol Sanat 143:1–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Krauß R (2011) Beginnings—new research in the appearance of the Neolithic between Northwest Anatolia and the Carpathian Basin. Papers of the International Workshop. 8th–9th April 2009. VML, Istanbul

  • Manolis SK, Stravopodi HJ (2003) An assessment of the human skeletal remains in the Mesolithic deposits of Theopetra Cave: a case study. Br School Athens Stud 10:207–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellaart J (1970) Excavations at Hacılar, vol 1, occasional publications of the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara no 9. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Özbal R, Gerritsen F (2010) 2009 yılı Barcın Höyük kazıları. In: 32. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı. 2. Cilt. T.C. Kültür Bakanlığı, Istanbul 198–208

  • Özbaşaran M (2011) Re-Starting at Aşıklı. Anatolia Antiq XIX:27–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özbaşaran M (2012) Aşıklı. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey, new excavations and new research, vol 3. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 135–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M (1999) Northwestern Turkey: Neolithic cultures in between the Balkans and Anatolia. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N (eds) Neolithic in Turkey. The cradle of civilization. New discoveries. Ancient Civilization series 3. Arkeol Sanat Yayınları, Istanbul, pp 203–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M (2007) Marmara bölgesi Neolitik çağ kültürleri. In: Özdoğan M, Başgelen N (eds) Anadolu’da uygarlığın doğuşu ve Avrupa’ya yayılımı. Türkiye’de Neolitik dönem. Yeni kazılar-yeni bulgular. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayinları, Istanbul, pp 401–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M (2011) Archaeological evidence on the westward expansion of farming communities from Eastern Anatolia to the Aegean and the Balkans. Curr Anthropol 52(S4):S415–S430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M, Başgelen N (1999) Neolithic in Turkey. The cradle of civilization. New discoveries. Ancient Civilization series 3. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayinları, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M, Başgelen N (2007) Anadolu’da Uygarlığın Doğuşu ve Avrupa’ya Yayılımı. Türkiye’de Neolitik Dönem. Yeni kazılar-yeni bulgular. Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayinları, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M, Gatsov I (1998) The aceramic Neolithic period in Western Turkey and in the Aegean. Anatolica 24:209–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M, Koyunlu A (1986) 1986 yılı çalişmalarinin ilk sonuçlari ve bazi gözlemler. Arkeol Sanat 32(33):4–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdoğan M, Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (2012) The Neolithic in Turkey, new excavations and new research, vol 4. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimer PJ, Baillie MGL, Bard E, Bayliss A, Beck JW, Blackwell PG, Bronk Ramsey C, Buck CE, Burr GS, Edwards RL, Friedrich M, Grootes PM, Guilderson TP, Hajdas I, Heaton TJ, Hogg AG, Hughen KA, Kaiser KF, Kromer B, McCormac FG, Manning SW, Reimer RW, Richards DA, Southon JR, Talamo S, Turney CSM, van der Plicht J (2009) IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51(4):1111–1150

    Google Scholar 

  • Reingruber A (2008) Die Deutschen Ausgrabungen auf der Argissa-Magula in Thessalien II. Die Argissa-Magula. Das Frühe und das beginnende mittlere Neolithikum im Lichte Transägäischer Beziehungen. Dr. Rudolf Habelt, Bonn

  • Reingruber A, Thissen L (2005) 14C database for the Aegean catchment (Eastern Greece, Southern Balkans and Western Turkey. In: Lichter C (ed) Byzas 2. How did farming reach Europe? Anatolian-European relations from the second half of the 7th through the first half of the 6th millennium cal BC. Ege Yayınlar, Istanbul, pp 295–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Reingruber A, Thissen L (2009) Depending on 14C data: chronological frameworks in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of southeastern Europe. Radiocarbon 51(2):751–770

    Google Scholar 

  • Roodenberg JJ (1995) The Ilıpınar excavations I. Five seasons of fieldwork in NW Anatolia, 1987–91. Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • Roodenberg JJ, Alpaslan Roodenberg S (2008) Life and death in a prehistoric settlement in Northwest Anatolia. The Ilıpınar excavations III. Nederlands Instituut Voor Het Nabije Oosten, Leiden

    Google Scholar 

  • Roodenberg JJ, Thissen LC (2001) The Ilıpınar excavations II. Nederlands Instituut Voor Het Nabije Oosten, Leiden

    Google Scholar 

  • Roodenberg JJ, van As A, Jacobs L, Wijnen MH (2003) Early settlement in the plain of Yenişehir (NW Anatolia). The basal occupation layers at Menteşe. Anatolica XXIX:17–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sağlamtimur H (2012) The Neolithic settlement of Ege Gübre. In: Başgelen N, Kuniholm P (eds) The Neolithic in Turkey. New excavations & new research. Volume 4. Western Turkey. Archaeology & Arts Publications, Istanbul, pp 197–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Sağlamtimur H, Ozan A (2012) Ege Gübre Neolitik yerleşimi. In: Çilingiroğlu A, Mercangöz Z, Polat G (eds) Ege Üniversitesi arkeoloji kazιlarι. Ege Üniversitesi, Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü & Sanat Tarihi Bölümü, Izmir, pp 95–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheu A (2012) Palaeogenetische Studien zur Populationsgeschichte von Rind und Ziege mit einem Schwerpunkt auf dem Neolithikum in Südosteuropa. Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoop UD (2005) The late escape of the Neolithic from the Central Anatolian plain. In: Lichter C (ed) Byzas 2. How did farming reach Europe? Anatolian-European relations from the second half of the 7th through the first half of the 6th millennium cal BC. Ege Yayınlar, Istanbul, pp 41–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Shennan S, Edinborough K (2007) Prehistoric population history: from the Late Glacial to the Late Neolithic in Central and Northern Europe. J Archaeol Sci 34:1339–1345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shennan S, Downey SS, Timpson A, Edinborough K, Colledge S, Kerig T, Manning K, Thomas MG (2013) Regional population collapse followed initial agriculture booms in mid-Holocene Europe. Nat Commun. doi:10.1038/ncomms3486

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherratt A (1980) Water, soil and seasonality in early cereal cultivation. World Archaeol 11(3):313–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherratt A (2007) Diverse origins: regional contributions to the genesis of farming. In: Colledge S, Conolly J (eds) The origins and spread of domestic plants in Southwest Asia and Europe. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, pp 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Thissen L (2006) CANeW 14C databases and 14C charts, Southwest and Northwest Anatolia 14C databases. 10th–6th Millennia cal BC. http://www.canew.org/data/. Accessed 17 March 2009

  • Todd IA (1976) Çatal Höyük in perspective. Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins T (1996) Excavations at Pınarbaşı: the early stages. In: Hodder I (ed) On the surface; Çatalhöyük 1993–5. McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, Cambridge, pp 47–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Weninger B, Alram-Stern E, Bauer E, Clare L, Danzeglocke U, Jöris O, Kubatzki C, Rollefson G, Todorova H, van Andel T (2006) Climate forcing due to the 8200 cal. yr BP event observed at Early Neolithic sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. Quat Res 66(3):401–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittle AWR (1996) Europe in the Neolithic: the creation of new worlds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AN (2012) The use of summed radiocarbon probability distributions in archaeology: a review of methods. J Archaeol Sci 39:578–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeder MA (2008) Domestication and early agriculture in the Mediterranean basin: origins, diffusion, and impact. PNAS 105(33):11597–11604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeder MA (2011) The origins of agriculture in the Near East. Curr Anthropol 52(S4):S221–S235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zilhão J (2001) Radiocarbon evidence for maritime pioneer colonization at the origins of farming in Mediterranean Europe. PNAS 98(24):14180–14185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zvelebil M (1998) Agricultural frontiers, Neolithic origins, and the transition to farming in the Baltic basin. In: Zvelebil M, Dennell R, Domańska L (eds) Harvesting the sea, farming the forest. The emergence of Neolithic societies in the Baltic region. Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield, pp 9–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Zvelebil M (2001) The agricultural transition and the origins of Neolithic society in Europe. Doc Praehist XXVIII:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Zvelebil M, Lillie M (2000) Transition to agriculture in Eastern Europe. In: Price TD (ed) Europe’s first farmers. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 57–92

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This article draws upon a PhD project, conducted at the University of Liverpool under the supervision of Douglas Baird, David Shankland and John Gowlett. It was supported by the Fonds National de la Recherche, Luxembourg.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, 12–14 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7WZ, UK

    Maxime N. Brami

Authors
  1. Maxime N. Brami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maxime N. Brami.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(XLSX 124 kb)

ESM 2

(XLSX 305 kb)

ESM 3

(DOCX 22.9 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Brami, M.N. A graphical simulation of the 2,000-year lag in Neolithic occupation between Central Anatolia and the Aegean basin. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 7, 319–327 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-014-0193-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-014-0193-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation