Karain Cave
Template:Short description Template:Infobox ancient site
Karain Cave (Template:Langx) is a Paleolithic archaeological site located at Yağca Village Script error: No such module "convert". northwest of Antalya city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.
Overview
The Karain prehistoric site is situated Script error: No such module "convert". above sea level and about Script error: No such module "convert". above the eastern slope of Sam Dağı Mountain (Mount Katran), where the western Taurus Mountains calcareous zone borders on the Travertine Plain. Karain is a complex of caves that consists of three main chambers and corridors, separated by calcite walls, narrow curves and passageways. Halls and galleries contain speleothems.[1]
Occupation
A fragment of a Neanderthal cranium discovered and dated confirms human habitation since the early Paleolithic age between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.[2][3] Researchers documented the continuity of human presence in the cave for a period of more than 25,000 years, from the Mesolithic, through the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, to the Bronze Age. It is assumed that during the time of Greek colonization of Asia Minor (Iron Age), the cave had a religious function, as Greek inscriptions and decorations suggest, that are carved into the rock in front of the entrance.[4]
Artifacts
Paleolithic and Neolithic flint blades, scrapers and arrowheads, some made in Levallois technique were discovered. In the subsequent layers lithic figurines and bone sculptures have been found, that suggest relations to the nearby Hacilar culture. The attention of researchers was especially drawn to the carving of a human face, stylistically similar to the products of the Natufian culture which flourished in the Levant during the Mesolithic period. This discovery may corroborate a commercial relationship of the population of southern Asia Minor and Palestine.[4]
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations hosts an extensive collection of Karain artifacts.
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ *XVIII. International symposium on excavation, research and archaeometry, The importance of Anatolian Paleolithic under the light of 1985-1995 Karain excavations, Dr. Kadriye Özçelik, Işın Yalçınkaya et al. (27 May 1996)
- ↑ *XXVI. International symposium on excavation, research and archaeometry, 2003 Karain excavations, Dr. Kadriye Özçelik, Işın Yalçınkaya et al. (24 May 2004)
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Template:Caves of Turkey Template:Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey Template:Navbox prehistoric caves