Orta Paleolitik Dönem'de Karain Mağarası E ve B gözleri arasındaki bağlantı

Abstract

This study deals with archaeological research that includes the results of geological analysesas well. Generally, the study was carried out using an interdisciplinary approach. As is known,the Karain Cave provides very rich stratigraphy and lithic industry from the perspective of thePaleolithic Age. The most intense stratigraphy falls onto the Middle Paleolithic period. As aresult of excavations carried out from 1946 - the time when the cave was discovered - to thepresent, limited stratigraphic studies have been conducted here. There are two different exca- vation areas in the cave, named as Chamber E and Chamber B. No comparative studies betwe- en these two chambers have been conducted up to the present.The thickest and most important sedimentary deposits of the Karain Cave belong to theMiddle Paleolithic period. Therefore, the stratigraphy of the Middle Paleolithic period whichprovides a comparison of both chambers and reveals the interrelationship between them wasthe subject of this study. Very important archaelogical artefacts were discovered during theexcavations in Chambers E and B. Not just the lithic industries of the Paleolithic Age, but alsothe uncovering of Neanderthal human remains have increased the importance of the MiddlePaleolithic sequence of the cave. During the ongoing studies in the two chambers, the stratig- raphic definitions have been made independently from one another until present. Since moreexcavation works have been performed in Chamber E, the stratigraphy of this area is knownin more detail. However, the information on the Middle Paleolithic stratigraphy in Chamber Bis not as detailed as in Chamber E. In order to eliminate this deficiency, the Middle Paleolithicsequence of Chamber B has been put forward first. Further, the similarities between the geolo- gical levels of the Middle Paleolithic period in Chambers E and B have been studied. All datawhich could help to reveal the relationship between the two chambers have been evaluated bybringing together all studies related to this period conducted in both chambers. While lookingfor probable relationships between the levels belonging to the Middle Paleolithic period, theresults of sedimentological analyses have been used in addition to the archaeological data. Theresults of the Thin Section, XRD and XRF analyses have also provided detailed information onthe sediment structures of the geological levels.In conclusion, as a result of this study, we were able to determine relationships betweenthe geological levels belonging to the Middle Paleolithic period in Chambers E and B of theKarain Cave. The results presented in this study are open for discussion and are not conclu- sive. However, we think that this archaeological study, conducted on the basis of data fromvarious disciplines, can be used as an example of interdisciplinary research for future studies.