Building a tephrostratigraphic framework for the Paleolithic of Central Anatolia, Turkey

Tryon C. A., Logan M. A. V., Mouralis D., Kuhn S., Slimak L., Balkan-Atli N.

JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE, vol.36, no.3, pp.637-652, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jas.2008.10.006
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.637-652
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (CAVP) in Turkey preserves widespread deposits of Quaternary tephra, presently associated with a small but growing number of Paleolithic archaeological sites. We use multivariate analyses of the abundances of a Suite of nine major and minor element oxides determined by electron probe microanalysis. From these data, we construct a classificatory model for correlating distal tephra to one of five volcanic edifices or eruptive phases within the CAVP. Application of this model to distal deposits Of primary tephra-fall and reworked tuffaceous sediments from the archaeological sites of Korkuyu and Kaletepe Deresi 3 indicates Late to possibly Early Pleistocene ages for the artifact assemblages there, and provides a fundamental tephrostratigraphic framework to examine spatial and temporal variation in hominin behavior comparable to that of other regions, such as eastern Africa. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.