Karaman: MRA-TUR-Kar001

Old ID Ref.: TUR/AD/1

Can Hasan is a prehistoric settlement site near present-day Alaçatı Village in the district of Karaman . Excavations of the site were prompted by James Mellaart’s discovery of painted sherds on one of the mounds constituting the settlement. the first excavations were made in 1961, and uncovered a chamber (the “Plaster Room”) with pottery dating the layer to about 4750 BC. Over the course of several subsequent campaigns numerous additional finds were made, both of artifacts, structures, and faunal remains pertaining to the Chalcolithic period. Among the unusual discoveries at Can Hasan were a collection of dozens of frog skeletons as well as numerous pieces of polychrome pottery. Canid skeletons, carbonized grain, obsidian tools, human remains, and beads have also been recovered. Intensive excavations of the site concluded in 1970.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Can-Hasan

https://biaa.ac.uk/research/item/name/can-hasan-excavations

Further reading:

Mellink, M. J. (1984). Archaeology in Asia Minor. American journal of archaeology, 88(4), 441-459.