Cultural characteristics of Central Anatolia during the Early Iron Age: The archaeological evidence

This study aims to evaluate the cultural characteristics of Central Anatolia during the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200-800 BC) by discussing architecture and pottery in the concerning period. Three major sites that include Gordion, Boğazköy / Hattuşa and Kaman Kalehöyük as well as survey data from various districts in Central Anatolia are chosen In this context. As the overall discussion on the Early Iron Age material from these sites suggest, there is a cultural and regional diversity in the early first millennium BC, which is highly likely the result of the lack of central authority following the demise of the Hittite kingdom after 1200 BC. Especially for the pottery during the concerning period, many scholars try to seek its origin particularly on the local material dating back to the Early Bronze and Middle Bronze Ages (i.e. late 3rd and the first half of the 2nd millennium BC). Keywords: Central Anatolia, Late Bronze Age / Iron Age Transition, Early Iron Age, pottery, culture, architecture, 1200-800 BC, Gordion, Hattuşa, Kaman Kalehöyük