Sediment descriptions and geochemical analyses of radiocarbon-dated deposits from the vicinity of Göbekli Tepe—A dataset

Abstract

This dataset comprises the detailed descriptions and laboratory measurements of sediment profiles from the semi-arid environs of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey—one of the oldest monumental structures of humankind dating to c. 11.5–10 ka BP. Focus of the descriptions are the architectural elements of the deposits allowing to conduct facies interpretations and the reconstruction of different depositional environments. This is supported by bulk geochemical sediment analyses (pH, electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, and loss on ignition) and the determination of total and inorganic carbon contents and chemical element concentrations. The Late Holocene chronology is based on radiocarbon dating of charcoal pieces and bulk samples containing organic matter from buried organic-rich topsoil horizons and soil sediments. Lithic artifacts from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic provide additional age estimates. Nykamp et al. [1] provide the synthesis that is based on the presented datasets.

Keywords

• Sediment sequences
• Depositional architecture
• Geochemical bulk parameters
• Facies interpretation
• Late Holocene geomorphodynamics