Archaeobotanical Studies at Sumaki Höyük (Batman, Turkey) in 2014

Year 2018, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 26 - 34, 21.06.2018

Leman Kutlu Aslı Erim Özdoğan Ernaz Altundağ Çakır

https://doi.org/10.31195/ejejfs.410656

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Our study focuses on the archaeobotanical analyses of 2014 season
of the Sumaki Höyük, which is located east of Beşiri town in Batman
province. It was excavated within the
framework of Ilısu Dam and HES project by the Batman Museum at the charge of
Dr. Aslı Erim Özdoğan.

Sumaki Höyük yields Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic
B (LPPNB) and Early Pottery Neolithic, namely Pre-Proto Hassuna and Proto
Hassuna phases, dated to 7310 - 7040 cal BC - 6480 - 6400 cal BC. The uppermost
phase is a small farm or a district belongs to Abbasid / Hamdani Periods dated
to cal. 770-890 AD. Most of the 2014 botanical samples are collected from the
phases dated between cal. 7030-6580 BC and cal. 6830-6470 BC.

The archaeobotanical remains were obtained by flotation of 348 lt soil of 45 samples that were
collected from different loci at Sumaki Höyük. The remains are preserved either
by carbonizing or mineralizing. Two domesticated families Poaceae and Fabaceae are predominant. The earliest
domesticated form of wheat Triticum dicoccon (Schrank) Schübl. Grains, as well
as pieces of spikelet forks, are
determined. Among the Fabaceae family
Lens culinaris Medik. (lentil), Vicia ervilia
(L.) Willld. (bitter vetch), Pisum sativum L. (garden pea) and Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) species
are vegetal source of nutrition of semi-nomadic inhabitants of Sumaki
Höyük. The existence of Linum L.
(Linen) might be the indicator of weaving and/or oil
consumption.

Keywords

Archaeobotany, Sumaki Höyük, Batman, Turkey

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