Neolithic Anatolia, is Turkish: Anadolu. Is also known as Asia Minor, the western extent of Asia.

Its location centralizes between the intersections of Asia and Europe.
8000 to 2000 BC timeline and periodization

8000 BC to 6500 BC
Pre-Pottery Neolithic, 11,000–6900 BC
Pottery Neolithic, 6900–6400 BC
Çatal Höyük, 6900–6500 BC

6500 BC to 5000 BC
Pottery Neolithic, 6900–6400 BC
Chalcolithic, 6400–3800 BC
Halaf culture, 6000–5500 BC
Ubaid culture, 5000–4200 BC
Shulaveri-Shomu culture, 6000–4000 BC

5000 BC to 3500 BC
Chalcolithic, ca. 6400–3800 BC
Ubaid culture , 5000–4200 BC
Kura-Araxes culture (Early Transcaucasian Culture), ca. 3500–2200 BC
Maikop culture, ca. 3500?–2000 BC?
Shulaveri-Shomu culture, ca. 6000–4000 BC
Kura-Araxes culture (Early Transcaucasian Culture), ca. 4000–2200 BC

3500 BC to 2000 BC
Early Bronze Age, 3000–2000 BC
Trojan Early Bronze Age, 3000–1900 BC
Hattian culture, 2350–2150 BC
Kura-Araxes culture (Early Transcaucasian Culture), 3500–2200 BC
Trialeti culture, 2200–1500 BC
Amuq G, H, I, J, 3100–2000 BC
Maikop culture, 3500?–2000 BC
Kura-Araxes culture (Early Transcaucasian Culture), 4000–2200 BC
Trialeti culture, 2200–1500 BC

Overview
Between 11,000 and 9000 BC (13000 and 11000 years ago) hunters and gatherers settled. The period is divided into an early phase without pottery and a later phase when pottery is present. Bone, obsidian, and other stone tools are commercialized and traded from Anatolia across the Near East and Mediterannaen during these times.

Key Events
11,000–6400 BC
Some settlements have pottery vessels and other ones do not. The Neolithic is the period during which humans live in villages and first domesticate plants and animals. By the end of this period, many had pottery, and things to keep grain and supplies in. As well as hearths, and/or a bio-fuel supply. In Anatolia in the pre-pottery neolithic, nondomestic buildings contained large stone sculptures of human figures. Later on, in the neolithic, the site of Çatal Höyük had buildings with elaborate wall paintings and modeled reliefs. Some even had animal skulls attached to the walls.

6000–4000 B.C.
The southeastern part of Anatolia keeps getting settled by peoples from Mesopotamia. They bring everyday objects, ceramics and goods of demand. Including seeds, grains, cattle, precious objects and trade secrets. They are attracted by the metallurgy development in the area. The Shulaveri-Shomu and other neolithic/chalcolithic cultures of the southern Caucasus raise animals such as cattle, pigs and dogs. They also grow crops, including grapes.

4000–2200 BC
Parts of Anatolia are occupied by people of the Kura-Araxes culture (or early Transcaucasian culture). There pottery is black with red interiors. They make new kinds of clay andirons, and tools of bronze. Including weapons, and pins.

2350–2150 BC
At Alaca Höyük an elite group of burials were found. Called royal tombs. They contained gold and jewelry, vessels of precious metal, and stag and bull carvings of bronze.

Be sure to check out again soon.

Bibliography: McEvedy, Colin (1967). The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History. Penguin.

Anatolia and the Caucasus, 8000–2000 B.C. | Chronology | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/02/waa.html

Akat, Uücel, Neşe Özgünel, and Aynur Durukan. 1991. Anatolia: A World Heritage. Ankara: Kültür Bakanliǧi.

Steadman, Sharon R.; McMahon, Gregory (2011). McMahon, Gregory; Steadman, Sharon (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Anatolia:(10,000–323 BCE). Oxford University Press Inc. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376142.001.0001. hdl:11693/51311. ISBN978-0195376142.

Anatolia | Definition, History, Map, People, & Facts. (1998, August 5). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Anatolia/The-Neolithic-Period

Leave a Reply