The Bioarchaeological Analysis of a New Early Bronze Age Settlement in Central Anatolia: Harhar Deresi (3000-2700 BC)

Abstract

Konya Province, one of the most significant Bronze Age settlements in Anatolia, is notable for its unique mounds. Harhar Deresi, located in one of the distinctive plateaus of Central Anatolia, is a pastoral settlement that was overlooked during surface surveys conducted by many researchers due to the region's topographic features. This settlement was first discovered by chance in 2018 during the construction of the Ankara-Nigde Highway and its connecting roads, and a rescue excavation was carried out in part of the site. This study presents paleopathological findings that contribute to an understanding of daily life in a recently discovered settlement from the Early Bronze II period (3000-2700 BC). The research is guided by two primary objectives. Firstly, it seeks to provide a qualitative paleopathological assessment of diseases, informed by observations related to osteoarthritis, trauma, osteoid osteoma, enthesopathy, and supracondylar process syndrome. Efforts have been made to ensure that this study is quantitative by comparing the pathology rates with those of contemporary ancient Anatolian societies. Secondly, the study aimed to understand the general nutrition, health, and socio-economic structure of this society, as revealed by dental anthropological findings. Our research indicates that the population engaged in intensive agricultural activities and followed a low-protein diet, likely due to the demands of strenuous physical labor. Furthermore, this study endeavors to introduce the physiological stress and health conditions experienced by the newly discovered Early Bronze Age population, serendipitously located in the Central Anatolia region, into the academic literature through a bioarchaeological perspective.