Archaeologists working at the Koskarlı Cave in Turkey have made remarkable discoveries that reveal new insights into the lifestyles of hunter-gatherers from nearly 13,000 years ago. This significant archaeological site has yielded a wealth of artefacts, including tools, evidence of a fireplace, and personal ornaments, all dating back to approximately 12,900 to 12,000 years ago.
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Koskarlı Cave, located in the Söğütlü Valley about 25 miles south of the city of Trabzon and at an elevation of over 3,300 feet, was first identified in 2019. Systematic excavations commenced in 2024, carried out under a collaboration between the Trabzon Museum and Karadeniz Technical University. The project aims to explore the cave’s untouched layers, which are providing unprecedented insights into the lives of the region’s ancient inhabitants.
During the initial excavation phase, archaeologists focused on various sections of the cave and uncovered a significant layer beneath an upper stratum filled with mixed artefacts from different prehistoric eras. This lower layer, measuring between 8 and 16 inches thick, contained ash, carbonised materials, and burnt sediments, indicating that the cave’s early occupants had established a fireplace for cooking and warmth.
The dating of bone and charcoal remains has helped situate this occupation within the late 13th millennium B.C., marking Koskarlı Cave as a pivotal site for the study of Epipaleolithic communities. The tools retrieved from the cave, made from materials such as colourful flint and obsidian, include blades, scrapers, points, and distinctive crescent-shaped tools known as lunates, which demonstrate advanced crafting skills of these early humans.
Interestingly, many of the artefacts found at Koskarlı resemble those discovered in other archaeological sites across Anatolia, the Levant, and the Caucasus. This geographical positioning suggests that Koskarlı may serve as a strategic point for understanding the mobility and technological exchanges between prehistoric populations in these regions.
Additionally, the excavation has provided a rare glimpse into the personal lives of the hunter-gatherers through the discovery of adornments. Artefacts such as a grooved piece of antler and a deliberately pierced animal tooth suggest that aesthetics and personal expression were important aspects of their culture. Furthermore, animal remains and shells are also among the finds, although further analyses are necessary to identify the species.
The significance of these findings cannot be overstated, as archaeological studies of this era in Anatolia have primarily focused on southern regions until now. The researchers have noted that Koskarlı Cave offers a “new reference point” for scholars looking to understand the lives of Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers and their relationships with neighbouring cultures.
As excavations continue, archaeologists are optimistic about uncovering even more information about the cave and its former residents. Plans for further investigations into the recovered animal and plant remains aim to reveal insights into the diet and adaptive strategies of these ancient communities, as well as their interactions with other groups.
The ongoing research at Koskarlı Cave reflects a growing interest in the archaeology of the eastern Black Sea region and holds the promise of enriching the broader narrative of human history during the Epipaleolithic era. As each layer is carefully examined and each artefact studied, the echoes of a prehistoric world are gradually being uncovered, helping to paint a fuller picture of how our ancestors lived, thrived, and connected with one another.