A New Epipaleolithic Site in Northwestern Anatolia: Ballık Cave (İzmir, Türkiye)

Abstract

Ballık Cave, situated within the provincial borders of İzmir in western Türkiye, represents a significant archaeological site with Pleistocene deposits dated to the Epipaleolithic period. Recent radiocarbon analyses conducted at TUBITAK-MAM have dated the site to between 11,860 and 10,805 cal. BC. The strategic location of Ballık Cave provides a unique opportunity to examine cultural interactions between the Aegean islands and contemporary sites in Anatolia. Excavations at the site have yielded a total of 10,520 knapped stone artifacts. This study undertakes a comprehensive techno-typological analysis of these artifacts. Furthermore, the findings are compared with those from Epipaleolithic sites in the northeastern Aegean islands and Anatolia, where similar assemblages have been identified. © 2025 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.