Located at the north-western “margins” of the Ubaid world, Mersin-Yumuktepe yielded a consistent series of building layers covering the 5000-4200 BC time-span which offers a unique documentation on the long-term fifth millennium developments of Cilicia. From the celebrated Level XVI, characterised by a monumental fortified structure that hosted activities connected with smelted copper metallurgy, to the large architectural complex of the recently excavated Level XV, which hosted large-scale distributive activities, the cultural sequence of Yumuktepe indicates radical changes, not only in terms of the function of its monumental structures, but also in terms of the new political and cultural strategies, which radically affected the organisation of craft-production (clearly visible in the appearance of mass-produced Coba bowls). This new direction towards a staple-resources oriented economy and food-based social strategies is the sign of the impact that a new economic and political model partly rooted in the Mesopotamian Ubaid traditions exerted on this region around 4500 BC. This model provided a structural premise for the later developments leading to the rise of states and cities in southern Anatolia during the fourth millennium.
The Ubaid impact on the periphery: Mersin-Yumuktepe during the fifth millennium BC
Palumbi G
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
2012-01-01
Abstract
Located at the north-western “margins” of the Ubaid world, Mersin-Yumuktepe yielded a consistent series of building layers covering the 5000-4200 BC time-span which offers a unique documentation on the long-term fifth millennium developments of Cilicia. From the celebrated Level XVI, characterised by a monumental fortified structure that hosted activities connected with smelted copper metallurgy, to the large architectural complex of the recently excavated Level XV, which hosted large-scale distributive activities, the cultural sequence of Yumuktepe indicates radical changes, not only in terms of the function of its monumental structures, but also in terms of the new political and cultural strategies, which radically affected the organisation of craft-production (clearly visible in the appearance of mass-produced Coba bowls). This new direction towards a staple-resources oriented economy and food-based social strategies is the sign of the impact that a new economic and political model partly rooted in the Mesopotamian Ubaid traditions exerted on this region around 4500 BC. This model provided a structural premise for the later developments leading to the rise of states and cities in southern Anatolia during the fourth millennium.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
