Step 3 : Debated problems

List of participants (n=13):

Nur Balkan-Atli, Didier Binder, Hijlke Buitenhuis, Isabella Caneva, David French, Frédéric Gérard, Peter Kuniholm, Catherine Kuzucuoglu, Roger Matthews, Maryanne Newton, Mihriban Özbasaran, Mehmet Özdogan, Laurens Thissen.

Preliminary problems:

Mapping (reporters: Catherine Kuzucuoglu, Frédéric Gérard): Basis: catchment area of the Central Anatolian Plateau, geographical definition of the environmental regions, regional site distribution pattern.
Chronology (reporters: Laurens Thissen, Peter Kuniholm/Maryanne Newton): General framework (Laurens Thissen); Dendrochronological comparisons and methodological problems (Peter Kuniholm and/or Maryann Newton).

Submitted questions (the question ID is in brackets):

FIRST ROUND

Problem 1 [TERMINOLOGY]/reporter: Hijlke Buitenhuis
Explanation/definition of terms, i.e. PPNB, Aceramic, Mesolithic, Early Neolithic, Late Neolithic, Early Chalcolithic/Middle Chalcolithic.

Problem 2 [ORIGINS]/reporter: Mehmet Özdogan
What are the origins of the Central Anatolian Neolithic? (local evolution?, impact of the obsidian 'trade'?, Levantine colonization?, etc.).

Problem 3 [HOMOGENEITY versus DIVERSITY]/reporter: Roger Matthews
Aspects of long term homogeneity in Central Anatolia: Why homogeneity? Why for such a long period? What are the reasons for the eventual break-down of this homogeneity? What are the degrees of diversity between the Central Anatolian sites both in space and in time? (e.g., compare the large sites (Çatal, Asikli) with the small ones (Suberde, Erbaba)). Is there a correlation between cultural homogeneity and cultural isolation? (e.g., degree of strength/intensiveness of the external contacts of Central Anatolia).

Problem 4 [TRANSFORMATIONS]/reporter: David French
How may we explain the possible 'transformations' in Central Anatolia of the large villages of the 'aceramic' and early pottery periods (e.g., Çatalhöyük, Asikli Höyük) to the small farming villages of the Early Chalcolithic (e.g. Can Hasan 3-2B/A, Köskhöyük, Tepecik).

SECOND ROUND

Southeast Anatolia [SE]/reporter: Nur Balkan-Atli
What are the cultural differences and correlations between Central Anatolia and the South-East during the period of study?

Levant, Middle-Euphrates and Cilicia [LEVANT]/reporter: Didier Binder
What is the role played by the obsidian trade between Central Anatolia, the Levant and the Middle Euphrates during the period of study? (e.g., obsidian workshops, technology, ways of acquisition, etc.). What is Cilicia's role in between Cappadocia and the Levant? (e.g., crossroad?, distribution area?, etc.).

Southwest and West/Aegean Anatolia [SW]/reporter: Frédéric Gérard
Do Central Anatolia and the "Lakes Region" belong to the same cultural region? Simultaneously, do the Lakes region and Aegean Anatolia share their cultural background? If not related to Central Anatolia, what is the origin of the Southwest Anatolian Neolithic? What is the role of the "Antalya-Bucak corridor"?

Northwest and North-Central Anatolia [NW]/reporter: Laurens Thissen
What are the relations between Central Anatolia and the Northwest? What about a possible Mesolithic/Neolithic interaction?