Geochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Basalt Fragments from the Neolithic Settlement of Sumaki Höyük (Batman, Turkey) to Determine the Source Area / Sumaki Höyük (Batman, Türkiye) Neolitik Yerleşiminde Kullanılan Bazalt Parçalarının Jeokimyasal ve Mineralojik Analizlerle Kaynak Alanının Belirlenmesi

Authors : Savaş Sarialtun, Mahmut Aydin, Mustafa Avcioğlu

Pages : 381-402

Doi:10.25288/tjb.1310550

View : 84 | Download : 59

Publication Date : 2023-08-20

Article Type : Research Article

Abstract :This study aims to determine the provenance of grinding stone tools unearthed from the Neolithic phases of Sumaki Höyük settlement using a portable Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (P-EDXRF) and X-ray Diffraction spectrometer (XRD). Sumaki Höyük is located in the Lower Garzan Basin of Batman province, Turkey. The settlement is dated to 9084±57 - 8123±50 cal BP. Grinding stone tools in this settlement are usually made of basalt. Albeit at low amounts, limestone was also used in the production of grinding stones. The Lower Garzan Basin, located to the east of Diyarbakır Basin, is surrounded by Mount Kıradağı to the west-southwest and Mount Raman to the south, the Garzan Anticlinal and Kentalan Anticlinal to the north-northeast. The basalt flow occurred in the Quaternary period. Samples collected from different parts of the Neolithic phase of Sumaki Höyük and the Kıradağı basalt flows were analysed using P-EDXRF to determine their chemical composition. The same samples were also analysed using XRD to determine their mineral composition. P-EDXRF and XRD analyses reveal that the samples from Sumaki Höyük and Kıradağı are in good accordance with each other. It is therefore understood that the basalt stone tools used in the settlement were taken from the Kıradağı basalts.
Keywords : Bazalt, jeoarkeoloji, Neolitik, Sumaki Höyük, Yukarı Mezopotamya