Reevaluation of Western and Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age chronology on ceramics in the light of Küllüoba absolute dating data

The Early Bronze Age (EBA) chronologies of Western and Central Anatolia and their interrelationships are still a matter of debate. In this context, a ceramic-based chronological comparison between the two regions was performed using absolute dating data from the Küllüoba excavation. To establish a chronology supported by absolute dating, 58 14C samples were collected and analyzed from 19 different levels of the Küllüoba settlement with a consistent stratigraphic sequence. The samples were chosen to correspond with each phase of the EBA. 53 of these samples yielded significant results, while 5 left incorrect results. The results were then cross-referenced with ceramic data from previous Küllüoba studies to establish a ceramic based EBA chronological sequence for Küllüoba. This sequence is as follows: ETÇ Ia (3200-2900 BC), ETÇ Ib (2900-2700 BC), ETÇ IIa (2700-2600 BC), ETÇ IIb (2600-2500 BC), ETÇ IIc (2500-2400 BC), ETÇ IIIa (2400-2150 BC), and ETÇ IIIb (2150-1900 BC). At last, using the chronological sequence established in Küllüoba, the layers and chronological developments of contemporary settlements in Western and Central Anatolia were compared based on ceramic data. Thus, the EBA development of both regions was reassessed using Küllüoba data as a reference.