9th millennium plant subsistence in the central Anatolian highlands: new evidence from Pınarbaşı, Karaman Province, central Anatolia

Fairbairn, AS; Jenkins, E; Baird, D; Jacobsen, GE

9th millennium plant subsistence in the central Anatolian highlands: new evidence from Pınarbaşı, Karaman Province, central Anatolia

Date

2014-01

Authors

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Plant macrofossil analysis, phytolith analysis and AMS radiocarbon dating at Pinarbaşi in central Anatolia confirm the presence and continuity of plant gathering practice as a key subsistence strategy from c. 9000-7700cal BC. Results demonstrate the use of almond, terebinth and hackberry as food plants, similar to Palaeolithic/Epipalaeolithic subsistence strategies in the Antalya region. Crop and/or crop progenitor use is unsupported, with sporadic cereal macrofossils rare and shown by direct radiocarbon dating to be intrusive, a conclusion supported by the phytolith analysis. Seed exploitation is also rejected. Results confirm the presence of sedentary foragers from 9000cal BC in central Anatolia, contemporary with the Levantine PPNA-Early PPNB, suggest a different plant subsistence focus to contemporary forager societies in the Fertile Crescent and indicate economic differences with contemporary sites in central Anatolia which were already cultivating crops. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

Anthropology, Fossils, Crops, Turkey, Forage, Quaternary Period, Seeds, Plants, Agriculture

Citation

Fairbairn, A. S., Jenkins, E., Baird, D., & Jacobsen, G. (2014). 9th millennium plant subsistence in the central Anatolian highlands: new evidence from Pınarbaşı, Karaman Province, central Anatolia. Journal of Archaeological Science, 41, 801-812. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.09.024