Techno-typology and provenance of the obsidian chipped stones from Sofular Höyük, an Early Neolithic settlement near the Kızılırmak in Central Anatolia

Abstract

Recent excavations at Sofular Höyük (Nevsehir, central Turkey) uncovered Aceramic Neolithic deposits dating to the late 9th and early 8th millennium cal BC and a lithic industry almost entirely made of obsidian. This study focuses on the techno-typology of this lithic assemblage and provides a first look at the material procurement strategies through geochemical characterization. Our results show that Sofular Höyük shares many general techno-typological features with contemporary sites in Central Anatolia, placing the settlement within the locally rooted traditions of the region, while the pXRF analysis of a selection of obsidian artefacts indicates the presence of two Cappadocian sources, namely Göllüdağ and Acıgöl.

Keywords

• Sofular Höyük
• Early Holocene
• Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN)
• lithic technology
• obsidian sourcing