Dr.

Joel Klenck
PRC, Inc.

Appendix D
Late Epipaleolithic (22-9.6k BC) to PPNA
(9.6-8.5k BC) to PPNB (8.5-6.5k BC).

 Proposed Origins of Anatolian Neolithic: Levant, N. Pontus, N. Iran.

Appendix D
 Ararat Prehistoric Site


 From 3,000 to 4,700 m a.s.l.
 All areas within 1,200 m (1,347 m with elevation) linear
extent.
 Divided into three areas: A, B, and C.
 Area A: Monumental wood structure; fourteen (14) loci;
minimum LWH measurements:
 1) Possible features and artifact scatter: 159.23 m, 91.34 m,
and 10.21 m.
 2) Wood fragments: 119.88 m, 91.34 m, and 10.21 m.
 3) Fully or partially intact wood loci: 96.53 m, 45.28 m, and
10.21 m.
 Architecture mostly of cypress (Cupressus sp.).
 Loci 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 & Loci 3, 14 constructed together.

Appendix D
 Radiometric Dating


 Shahid Beheshti University in Iran.
 A: Uncharred wood with fungus, <20 mm, >100.0 pMC
 B: Uncharred wood; <20 mm; 120 ± 25 CalBP
 C: Uncharred wood; 60 mm; 610 ± 25 CalBP
 D: Uncharred wood; 300 mm; 6,891 ± 4,647 CalBP
 Larger the uncharred wood sample, the older the dates.
 Corollary: Peruvian site of Paredones exhibiting modern
dates from uncharred vegetal samples while charred portion
of same artifact and other samples yielded dates from 6th and
7th millenniums BP (Grobman et al., PNAS, 2012).
 Artifact seriation evidences earlier date parameter.

Appendix D
Site Context

Appendix D
 Artifact Seriation


 Thick-walled globular stone vessels date from the 12th to 7th Mil. BC
(Kozlowski and Aurenche, 2005).
 Vegetal remains dominated by legumes (chick pea & bitter vetch) and
small amounts of wild cereals; similar to Hallan Çemi (bitter vetch &
lentils without cereals) dating to 10th Mil BC (Rosenberg & Nesbitt).
 Ararat wood bowls coarser, more robust compared to Kefar Samir from
5th Mil BC (Galili et al., 1993).
 Lithic core technology and microliths: 40th to 3rd Mil. BC (Gatsov, Pers.
Com., 2013).

Appendix D
 Waddle Walls


 Bundles of tree stems, wrapped in
vegetal material (covered in mud).
 Anatolian S. Coast: Fikirtepe, Pendik,
İstanbul Yenikapı, and Aktopraklık,
round/oval wattle-and-daub huts,
semi-sunken floors, 6,450-6,100 BC
(Özdoğan and Başgelen, 2007).
 Shillourokambos in southern Cyprus
dating to 8,200 BC (Guilaine and Briois,
2001); Çatal Höyük with contexts
around 7,500 BC (Hodder, 2003); Hallan
Çemi at ca. 9,000 BC (Rosenberg et al.).
 Çayönü, horizontal bands of waddle
(Braidwood 1981, Schirmer 1988).
 Ararat A, Locus 8, waddle without
daub. Stem bundles wrapped in cords
of flax (Linum sp.).
 Similar to Loci 2, 3, and in Area C.

Appendix D
 Vertical Timbers with Clay
Coating


 Wooden posts with clay
coating at Jarf el Ahmar
in Syria dating to 9,500-
8,500 BC (Stordeur et al.
2001); at Mureybet IIIB
(van Loon 1966).
 Ararat, Locus 3, vertical
slats of wood covered
with clay coating.

Appendix D
 Timber Courses in Clay


 Pre-Pottery
Neolithic features at
Mureybet II, IIIB,
Cheikh Hassan,
Çayönü, and Jericho
where vertical
timber courses were
emplaced in clay
(van Loon 1968;
Cauvin 1980;
Schirmer 1988).
 Ararat Locus 2,
timber course
adhered to wall by
clay material.

Appendix D
Retaining Walls with Wood
Posts


 Features found
in PPNA strata
at Hallan Çemi
and Jarf el
Ahmar
(Rosenberg,
1994; Stordeur
et al, 2001).
 Ararat A, Locus
6, wood posts
preventing
lithic material
from entering
structure.

Appendix D
 Vertical and Horizontal
Timbers & Planks


 Vertical timbers without clay
coating at Area A, Locus 14
(e.g., Natufian structures).

 Horizontal planks without clay

Appendix D
 Bitumen or Resin


 Base of SF289,
Wadi Faynan,
southern Jordan,
9-8th Mil BC
(Wicks, 2007).
 As-Sabiyah,
Kuwait, 6th Mil BC
(Carter, 2010).
 Ararat sites: Thick
or thin coatings
exhibited in most
loci. Exceptions in
Area A: Loci 3, 8
(with clay coating
or waddle) and 6
(retaining wall?).

Appendix D
 Area B: Smaller Edifices


 Area B: Smaller
wood structures
at lower
elevations.
 Smaller edifices
constructed or
separated from
Area A by
cultural or
natural processes.
 Early historic
preservation?
 Area B, Locus 2.
Appendix D
 Area C: Cave Site


 Cave site with no
ceramic artifacts but
bone and wood tools,
Linum strands, cords,
textiles, wild cherry,
cinnamon, and
ginger.
 Artifacts suggest
food storage; textile
manufacturing and
dyeing; or both.
 Bowls made of
organic materials.

Appendix D
 Ararat Prehistoric Sites


 No surprises; archaeological
analogues; prior hypotheses.
 Adds to discussions about
the Late Epipaleolithic to Pre-
Pottery Neolithic A transition.
Appendix D
 Architecture
 Pre-Pottery Neolithic


architecture built mostly of
stone, mudbrick, sometimes
reinforced by timber (Bıçakçı,
2003).
 Wood construction rare and
poorly preserved in
archaeological contexts.
 Ararat loci exhibit
knowledge of carpentry
techniques: mortise-and-
tenon joints and notched
cross-beams.

Appendix D
 Domestication


 Wild grains and legumes (chickpea, bitter vetch,
and lentils) domesticated around 9,000 BC.
 Ararat sites have very large and well-preserved
unburnt samples of early domesticates.
 Legumes (Cicer, Vicia) predominant; similar to
Hallan Çemi (Vicia, Lens).
 Similar or smaller: Tell el-Kerkh, Ain Ghazal,
Jericho, Ramad, Cayönü (Tanno & Willcox 2006).
Ht: 4.43 mm & Wdth: 3.54 mm (N=10).
 C. arietinum or C. bijugum?
 Genetic studies possible.

Appendix D
 Non-Ceramic Containers


 Old World Archaeologists:
Pottery from Lime Ware.
 New World / Australasian
Archaeologists: Pottery from
Organic Materials.
 Ararat sites provide evidence
for both. Form and function—
evolution of pottery.

Appendix D
Non-Ceramic Containers

Appendix D
 Industry


 Comprehensive evidence for
manufacturing processes: flax strands
(Linum sp.)
 Bone and wood tools.
 Cord making.
 Textile weaving.
 Fabric dyeing.

Appendix D
 Veneration


 1960s to 1980s: Environment a causal factor.
 1990s to 2000s: Importance of ideology.
 Origins of Ararat site, absence of cult
architecture, exhibits utilitarian features:
legume storage, caprovine herding, textile
manufacturing and dyeing.
 Later cultures venerated site leaving whole
bowls and other artifacts in Locus 4.

Appendix D
 Civilization


 Earliest monumental structure: PPNA tower
at Jericho dates to 8,000 BC; 9 m in diameter;
8.5 m in height; dating to ca. 8,500 BC.
Required coordination and hierarchical
society (Kenyon, 1981).
 Earliest display of non-egalitarian village at
Hallan Çemi (10th Mil BC) (Rosenberg et al.).
 Earliest cult area at Göbekli Tepe (9th Mil
BC); required transport of materials several
kilometers (Schmidt, 1995, 2001a; 2001b).
 Area A significantly larger than PPNA tower
at Jericho: At least 96.53 m. in length, 45.28
m. in width, and 10.21 m. in height.
 Uncommon building materials required
more extensive transport to higher
elevations compared to Göbekli Tepe.
 Origins of site and assemblage appear to be
from L. Epipaleolithic/PPNA transition.
 Initially non-cult oriented organization and
coordination similar to Hallan Çemi .

Appendix D
 Additional Surveys


 Archaeologists from
University of Leiden
surveyed Area B loci
in May, 2013.
 Detailed
measurements and
high resolution
photographs.
 Area B, Locus 1
exhibits mortise-and-
tenon joints < 20 mm
in diameter.

Appendix D
 Concerns


 Preliminary report sent to Turkish,
International, and Academic archaeological
authorities in March, 2013.
 Melting ice and retreating glacier.
 Lack of preservation efforts.
 Looting by locals and enthusiasts.
 Paucity of organized mitigation efforts.

Appendix D