Diversity of plant and land use during the Near Eastern Neolithic : phytolith perspectives from ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk
Based in the Konya Basin of Central Anatolia, the Neolithic site of ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk (East Mound) is important to our understanding of the development of early agricultural societies. Occupied between 7400-7100 cal BC to 6200-5900 cal BC, the site is notable for its extended period of occupation, large size and densely packed architecture. Research into Neolithic plant and land use has generally focused upon agricultural crops and the environments in which they are grown, and less is known about the role of wild plants and the non-food use of plants in the later Neolithic. This project used phytolith analysis, a micro-botanical technique, as a way of exploring patterns of plant and land use. Phytoliths present in sediments collected from middens and buildings were analysed to investigate plants exploited for food, fuel, craft activities, and construction. Unusually abundant macroscopically visible silicified (phytolith) remains, including from plant artifacts, also offered direct evidence for certain types and locations of plant-use. A wide range of plant-uses and pathways has highlighted how phytolith assemblages relate to different kinds of âinput sourcesâ, and how certain environmental habitats may be
Ryan, P. L.
Diversity of plant and land use during the Near Eastern Neolithic : phytolith perspectives from ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk. Based in the Konya Basin of Central Anatolia, the Neolithic site of ĂatalhĂ¶yĂŒk (East Mound) is important to our understanding of the development of early agricultural societies. Occupied between 7400-7100 cal BC to 6200-5900 cal BC, the site is notable for its extended period of occupation, large size and densely packed architecture. Research into Neolithic plant and land use has generally focused upon agricultural crops and the environments in which they are grown, and less is known about the role of wild plants and the non-food use of plants in the later Neolithic. This project used phytolith analysis, a micro-botanical technique, as a way of exploring patterns of plant and land use. Phytoliths present in sediments collected from middens and buildings were analysed to investigate plants exploited for food, fuel, craft activities, and construction. Unusually abundant macroscopically visible silicified (phytolith) remains, including from plant artifacts, also offered direct evidence for certain types and locations of plant-use. A wide range of plant-uses and pathways has highlighted how phytolith assemblages relate to different kinds of âinput sourcesâ, and how certain environmental habitats may be
diversity plant land_use near_eastern neolithic phytolith perspective aatalhapyaoek based basin central_anatolia neolithic_site aatalhapyaoek east mound important development early agricultural society occupied cal cal site notable extended period occupation large_size densely architecture neolithic plant land_use generally focus_upon agricultural crop environment grow less known role wild plant non food use plant later_neolithic project use phytolith analysis micro botanical technique way explore pattern plant land_use phytoliths present sediment collect midden building analyse investigate plant exploit food fuel craft activity construction unusually abundant macroscopically visible phytolith remain include plant artifact also_offer direct_evidence certain_type location plant_use wide_range plant uses pathway highlight phytolith assemblage relate_different kind input source certain environmental habitat may