Tourexpi
Türkiye's
rich archaeological landscape holds critical clues to how past civilizations
responded to climate challenges.
Harvey
Weiss, a prominent professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at Yale University in
the US, is leading a ground-breaking study at the ancient site of Kultepe, near
central Kayseri, to explore the adaptive strategies of ancient societies in the
face of environmental shifts.
Located
20 kilometers (12.4 miles) northeast of Kayseri, Kultepe is a vast
archaeological site spanning 300 hectares (741 acres).
The
excavations, led by Fikri Kulakoglu from Ankara University, have brought to
light significant evidence about how the region’s inhabitants lived and adapted
thousands of years ago.
Weiss,
renowned for his research on the Akkadian Empire's collapse from severe
drought, has joined the excavation team to delve into the ancient society's
response to climate change.
The
research aims to find "the way in which Kultepe and its society adapted to
abrupt climate change 4,200 years ago," he said.
It
is very important for the history of the world, the Near East, and Türkiye to
understand how societies in big cities, such as Kultepe, adapted to the
significant climate change 4,200 years ago, said Weiss.
Weiss’
research revealed that 4,200 years ago, large structures were reduced to ashes,
only to be replaced by smaller, more modest dwellings. The transformation,
Weiss believes, was likely driven by climatic changes that forced inhabitants
to rethink their living conditions and agricultural practices.
At
the end of the research, "we would be able to analyze seeds collected from
the floors of buildings. The analyzed seeds provide dates and rainfall
conditions at the time those plants were growing," said Weiss.
The
analysis is also expected to shed light on the resilience of Kultepe’s
inhabitants and their ability to adapt to environmental pressures, he noted.
The
work at Kultepe also draws parallels with his previous studies in Syria and
Iraq near the Turkish border, where he revealed climate events significantly
affected the Akkadian Empire.
The
empire, which controlled vast agricultural territories, including parts of
central Anatolia, relied heavily on consistent rainfall for survival.
“Abrupt
climate change reduced the rainfall for rain-fed agriculture and affected
Mesopotamia and Türkiye (Anatolia),” he noted.
As
Weiss continues to uncover the secrets of Kultepe, he emphasized its importance
in understanding not only the history of the region but also of Türkiye.
"When
I came to Kultepe, I immediately understood that you can’t understand the
history of Türkiye (Anatolia) without understanding the history of
Kultepe," he said.
Image
Credit: © AA
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