Now Reading: 12,900-year-old cave in Turkey reveals hunter-gatherer life
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12,900-year-old cave in Turkey reveals hunter-gatherer life
A 12,900-year-old intact occupation layer has been found in Koskarlı Cave near Trabzon, Turkey, offering rare archaeological evidence of Epipalaeolithic hunter-gatherers in the eastern Black Sea region. The cave, identified in 2019…
The Story in Brief
A 12,900-year-old intact occupation layer has been found in Koskarlı Cave near Trabzon, Turkey, offering rare archaeological evidence of Epipalaeolithic hunter-gatherers in the eastern Black Sea region. The cave, identified in 2019 and excavated from 2024, contained a hearth, stone tools and personal ornaments such as a perforated animal tooth.
The intact layer, 20-40 cm thick, held ash, burnt flint and an in-situ hearth. Radiocarbon dating placed the occupation around 12,900 to 12,000 years ago. Stone tools show similarities with industries in Anatolia, the Levant and the Caucasus, hinting at prehistoric movement and exchange.
The Indian Opinion
This cave discovery is genuinely rare, but the coverage often exaggerates the 'mystery' of prehistoric people. The real significance is the evidence of human movement between Anatolia and the Caucasus. However, conclusions from a single cave remain limited. The upcoming analysis of faunal remains will provide concrete answers about diet and environment in that period.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
