Balıklı: On the Edge of Time and Everything

Abstract

This paper examines the findings from recent excavations at Bal & imath;kl & imath;, a lesser-known Neolithic settlement located on the Central Anatolian Plateau, with the aim of questioning established models of Neolithization in the region. In contrast to long-term and architecturally stable settlements like A & scedil;& imath;kl & imath; H & ouml;y & uuml;k, Bal & imath;kl & imath; represents a shorter-term and more flexible occupation. This contrast reflected in differences in architecture, duration of occupation, and modes of subsistence, suggests that Neolithization in Central Anatolia did not follow a singular, linear trajectory but instead involved multiple strategies, timings, and social organizations. The study contributes to a reassessment of the geographic and cultural diversity of the Neolithization process in Central Anatolia.