Primary Archaeozoological observations on the faunal remains of Kanlıtaş Höyük, an Early Chalcolithic settlement in north-western Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

Kanlıtaş Höyük is a mound site situated at the edge of a mountainous region of Eskişehir province in north-western Anatolia. This was an Early Chalcolithic factory site mainly for marble bracelets production. Besides, Kanlıtaş people were intensely cultivating crops. However, faunal remains, as well as stone tools, suggest that Kanlıtaş people were still regular hunter for their subsistence. Although big animals are present, small ruminants (Ovicaprids), wild boars (Sus scrofa), deer (C. elaphus and D. dama), hares (Lepus sp.), birds (Alectoris sp., Anas sp., Goose sp. etc.) and aquatic species are found as the most profoundly consumed species comprising more than 78% of total fauna. Some carnivore species (Felis sylvestris, Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Ursus sp. etc.) are also found common. Primary observations suggest outer settlement butchering practice, and burn marks, especially around the edge, on a large number of bones suggest open firing or direct heat food processing which is unlikely that people were mostly cooking meat by pot, although high quality pottery remains are present in the site. Moreover, identified animal species illustrate a mixed ecology and habitat system which indicate a mixture of subsistence strategies of the inhabitants.

Kanlıtaş Höyük is considered to be one of the most important settlements of Chalcolithic Porsuk culture and a connecting site for the cultural contact between Central Anatolia, Western Anatolia and Balkans during 6th millennium B.C. Thus, faunal remains Kanlıtaş Höyük are considered to be valuable sources to understand Early Chalcolithic life ways of this transitional zone in Anatolia.