Archaeological In-Depth Analysis
Samsun Province, located in Turkey’s Black Sea Region, has historically served as a strategic transit corridor due to its geographical position. However, owing to the concentration of mainstream tourism on the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, Samsun’s archaeological heritage remains largely unrecognized by the wider public. The ‘hidden sites’ highlighted in this report specifically include archaeological settlements such as Dündartepe, Kaledoruğu, and Tekkeköy. These locations are of pivotal importance for understanding the lifeways, technological developments, and regional interaction networks of early agricultural communities in the inland Black Sea area. Their geomorphological features, natural defensive advantages, and proximity to water sources reflect typical settlement preferences of Neolithic populations.
Key Findings
- Multiperiod archaeological settlements, including Dündartepe, Kaledoruğu, and Tekkeköy, exist within the boundaries of Samsun Province.
- These sites contain significant archaeological data dating to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.
- The areas hold strategic importance for comprehending the dynamics of early agriculture and sedentary life in the Black Sea Region.
Historical Context and Connections to the Past
Limited excavations conducted in the Samsun region have yielded crucial archaeological evidence from Dündartepe, Kaledoruğu, and Tekkeköy, dated to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods [1][2]. These findings confirm the presence of sedentary communities and the development of agricultural economies in the region from as early as the 7th millennium BCE. Research at Tekkeköy Cave, in particular, sheds light on the transition of the earliest hunter-gatherer groups in the inland Black Sea and contributes significantly to regional chronologies.
Related Discoveries:
- Tios Ancient City Necropolis: Discovered in Filyos (Zonguldak Province) in the Black Sea Region, this ancient necropolis with a millennium-long usage provides comparative data for understanding regional continuity and settlement hierarchies alongside Samsun’s sites.
Archaeologist’s Note
In light of current archaeological evidence, these inland settlements in Samsun are not only of regional significance but also serve as critical nodes for understanding how the Neolithization process unfolded along northern Anatolia’s coastline. Tell settlements such as Dündartepe and Kaledoruğu are rich in ceramic and lithic assemblages that demonstrate material and ideological exchange between the Marmara, Central Anatolia, and the Black Sea regions. Systematic, long-term excavations at these sites have the potential to fundamentally redraw the Neolithic map of the Black Sea Region.
Sources and Further Reading
- [1] life activities in the region in the neolithic, chalcolithic, and .... academia.edu. Go to Original Source
- [2] life activities in the region in the neolithic, chalcolithic, and .... researchgate.net. Go to Original Source