Transformation and Sustainability Within Levallois Reduction Strategy of Sürmecik, Western Anatolia/Aegean
Lithic Technology, vol.49, no.4, pp.375-393, 2024 (AHCI, SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 49 Issue: 4
- Publication Date: 2024
- Doi Number: 10.1080/01977261.2023.2290321
- Journal Name: Lithic Technology
- Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Anthropological Literature, DIALNET
- Page Numbers: pp.375-393
- Keywords: Aegean, levallois, lithic technology, paleolithic, Sürmecik, Western Anatolia
- Ankara University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Sürmecik, which today has the largest collection in Turkey with 86,246 lithics, is a Paleolithic open-air site located in Western Anatolia/Aegean discovered by chance approximately 5 m below the surface. This paper focuses on the Levallois flaking strategy (555 cores and 2627 endproducts). The material offers such a degree of diversity that certain opposites can clearly highlighted and cannot characterized as a single model of technical behavior. It reflects that knappers produce conforms to the Levallois Volumetric Concept, but in some cases also a flexible production. The sustainability of the Levallois seen–as an option–may have resulted in a possible solution to the needs by using either the flake, the core, or a combination of both. These observations are discussed in the context of formulations of technical behavior and this paper is a pioneer in its field by creating one of the comprehensive studies on Levallois technology in Turkey.