Research Information System
XI. Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, İstanbul, Turkey, 24 - 29 April 2007, vol.1, pp.441-448, (Full Text)
Anatolia is influenced by global political, social, cultural and economical developments as became all the Near East at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. Economic and ecologic conditions are essential elements for affecting to trade. It is parallel to these developments as became all the Near East interregional long-distance land and sea trade increased in Anatolia. West Anatolia has commercial connection with Cyclades, mainland Greece and Balkans through the Aegean Sea. On the other side Central Anatolia sustained to commercial relations with Syria and Mesopotamia. It is known that rich metal and other staple sources in Anatolia from the prehistoric periods. This circumstance is the main reason to provide growing commercial activities between Anatolia and its west-east neighbor regions. The following paper aims to shed the connections, which were organized between West and Central Anatolia through the land and sea routes in this period. One or several directions, which are acceptable to land trade routes, can mention from the point of view geographical conditions. Sea trade must be provided following two main routes: first one is from the Black sea where reach the northern part of Central Anatolia to Troy, second one is from Cilician zone to Troy. The Sea trade routes also constituted to some parts of the Ancient Near East international sea trade network. Some archaeological evidences as the import products and their local imitations attest this trade contacts. The appearing of products, which are luxury or reflective trends of this period rapidly in an enormous area that contains also these two regions, shows more compact connections that we imagine. Were the commercial activities protected by the local political powers? Large fortificated settlements with phenomenal central structure, various workshops, rich royal tombs and treasures attest presence of elites at this period. Probably commercial activities were enforced by patronage of elites. In this perspective it is clear that historical background of the legendary Šar Tamhari texts is true. Inland West Anatolia Region is a contact region located between West and Central Anatolia. In recent years excavations and researches especially at Çeşme-Bağlararası, Liman Tepe , Kanlıgeçit , Küllüoba , Kaklık Mevkii in West and Central Anatolia regions show new evidences that booster this study. Commercial activities will become clear with new excavations through the Early Bronze Age in Central Anatolia Region.