ARCHAEOMALACOLOGICAL REMAINS FROM ULUCAK, WESTERN TURKEY(IZMIR REGION): A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Abstract

This is a preliminary report of the archaeomalacological material analysis from the chalcolithic site of Ulucak, in Western Turkey. This study is limited to the presentation of the few shells given to us.The importance of this shell material cannot be discussed in detail as it represents a very small sample of the whole.

Regarding to the identification of the shells, bivalves and gastropods, belonging to different environments, are present. Donacilla cornea and Cardium (Cerastoderma glaucum) come from sandy bottoms, while Murex trunculus and Conus mediterraneus come from rocky environments. They are probably dietary remains and their significance in the nutrition has to be examined.

The general economic patterns at Ulucak are actually quite different from those of the past already known Anatolian and Aegean sites. A detailed comparison with prehistoric coastal sites in Anatolia and Greece is necessary in order to interpret the Ulucak remains. This will be a subject to be discussed in the final publication of the material.