Norsuntepe: Kleinfunde II.

• Author: Zimmermann, Thomas
• Position: Book review

Norsuntepe: Kleinfunde II. By KLAUS SCHMIDT. Archaeologica Euphratica, vol. 2. Mainz: VERLAG PHILIPP VON ZABERN, 2002. Pp. xi + 206, plates. [euro]128.

Large-scale salvage projects in the Keban area (modern eastern Turkey) carried out between 1968 and 1974 have contributed significantly to our knowledge of prehistoric activities in eastern and southeastern Anatolia. The preliminary reports published in the Middle East Technical University's Keban dam project series still represent the foundation for further research activities in this region.

One of the most important sites investigated is the multi-period mound called Norsuntepe in the Elazig province of modern Turkey, excavated by the German Archaeological Institute under the directorship of Harald Hauptmann. The site's extensive stratigraphy, covering periods from the Late Chalcolithic (layers 25-30) to the Iron Ages (layers 1-2) promised unprecedented insight into cultural changes and developments in a previously little-known region of ancient Anatolia. The Bronze Age occupation especially remains of great interest for the archaeological community desperately trying to link the Metal Age chronologies of western, central, and southern Anatolia with that of the Euphrates region of Asia Minor. This task will not be accomplished so long as the final publication of Norsuntepe's stratigraphy and architecture is not available.

Nevertheless, scholars are grateful that the first two final volumes of the Norsuntepe mission have now been issued: the first on lithic industries (K. Schmidt, Norsuntepe I: Die lithische Industrie [Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1996]) and the second, reviewed here, by the same author on ground stone, bone, and antler artifacts as well as clay, metal, and glass items from all periods documented at Norsuntepe. Since the first monograph of this Archaeologica Euphratica series was already of remarkable quality, one could expect the same high standard for the publication of the small finds, and indeed this expectation has been fulfilled. The primary author is one of the leading experts on the Near Eastern Neolithic, and he was joined by several other contributors: Istvan Baranyi on Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age slags, and Ernst Pernicka and Sigrid Schmitt-Strecker on metalworking techniques.

Nevertheless, the main section of this monograph is devoted to the description and analysis of the huge bulk of small finds from all occupation horizons, roughly divided into...