Obsidian, trade and society in the central Anatolian Neolithic

Abstract

The major scope of this thesis was a reappraisal of obsidian and trade connections in the Central Anatolian Neolithic, to what degree external relations shaped and altered the cultural setting of a community, and what other items can be identified as key agents in this multiregional interaction sphere. For that reason, well published model sites were chosen to investigate these issues. Major focus was then set on obsidian, with major sources located in Central Anatolia, indeed an ideal item to trace interregional relationships. Furthermore, the value of other items like flint, metals and certain small finds were reviewed to achieve a comprehensive picture of the mechanisms on Neolithic trade and exchange, and its effects on society and settlement policy.