Tools and souvenirs: the shells from Kilise Tepe (1994-1998)
In: Anatolian Studies: London. ISSN 0066-1546, more |  |
| Keywords | Marine/Coastal; Fresh water; Terrestrial |
| Abstract | In the summers of 1994-1998 a rescue excavation took place at Kilise Tepe, an archaeological site occupied from the Early Bronze Age to the Byzantine period, located in the Goksu valley in Cilicia in southern Turkey. This article analyses the shell finds from environmental and archaeological perspectives. Three categories of molluscs are identified: terrestrial, freshwater and marine. The first two are the remnants of local fauna that lived on or near the site; the marine shells came from the Mediterranean shore adjacent to the Goksu delta and the delta itself. There are indications that freshwater mussels served as tools. Marine shells were worn as ornaments. |
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