The analysis of Cevizcioğlu Çiftliği necropolis human skeletal remains in terms of paleodemography and burial traditions

Hellenistic-Roman Period studies in Anatolia were usually focused on cities and material culture. This study is aimed to obtain mortality practices and demographic data about rural settlements based on human skeletal remains of Cevizcioglu Çiftliği Nekropolis dated to the Hellenistic-Roman Period. Differences in life tables and burial practices of Cevizcioğlu Çiftliği Necropolis revealed that the Necropolis should be evaluated as Hellenistic, Roman and Late Roman. It was determined that the sex ratios for the three periods were close to the 1/1 ratio. However, it was observed that the death rates between the periods differed and the death rates of the Hellenistic Period were higher than the other periods. Although infant and child representation rates are low in the Roman Period and Late Roman Period, they are compatible with Anatolia in general. However, the Hellenistic Period has low rates in terms of infant and child representation. This finding suggests that immature individuals may have been buried in separate places. It has been determined that the Cevizcioglu Çiftliği Nekropolis does not differ in terms of the burial forms of men and women. However, both sexes differ in terms of burial gifts. Earthenware products were placed on women's graves, and gifts made of glass were placed on men's graves. The difference in grave gifts differs not only in terms of sex, but also in age groups. For example, it was determined that the figures and the rattles are put on babies and children. viii In conclusion, it has been seen that the necropolises dating to the Hellenistic-Roman Period should not be evaluated as a whole and that the Roman period should be dealt with in its division. Keywords Paleodemography, burial traditions, Hellenistic-Roman, Late Roman, burial gifts, infant-child mortality