Archaeobotanical evidence for trade in hazelnut (Corylus sp.) at Middle Bronze Age Kultepe (c. 1950-1830 BC), Kayseri Province, Turkey

Fairbairn A., KULAKOĞLU F., Atici L.

VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY, cilt.23, sa.2, ss.167-174, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 23 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2014
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00334-013-0403-5
  • Dergi Adı: VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.167-174
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Hazelnut, Anatolia, Trade, Bronze Age, Assyrian trade colony, Kanesh
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Archaeobotanical samples from the Middle Bronze Age (MBA; c. 2000-1700 b.c.) city of Kanesh, excavated at the site of Kultepe in Kayseri Province, Turkey, preserve the charred shells of hazelnut (Corylus sp.). Hazelnut species do not naturally grow in the Kayseri area, being a native element of the broadleaf woodlands of Turkey's Black Sea region, today home to a multi-million dollar international hazelnut export industry. The finds come from both the upper and lower city, being restricted to the Middle Bronze Age Karum level II, an occupation phase which saw the greatest development of the Assyrian trade network of which Kanesh was the administrative centre. This archaeobotanical discovery at Kultepe provides the earliest direct evidence for trade in hazelnuts in the region, probably imported on a small scale as luxury items facilitated by the Assyrian trade network. It also provides independent support for historical claims that hazelnut was traded at Kanesh based on the analysis of cuneiform tablets.