Mesudiye in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age in the light of surveys investigations in the Melet River Basin of Ordu province

This thesis examines and evaluates the findings of archaeological surface surveys conducted in the Mesudiye district of Ordu province. The research was carried out within the scope of the Ordu Province Melet River Basin Surface Survey Project (OMHAY) between 2018–2020 and 2023, with the aim of uncovering the protohistoric archaeological data of the region. The pottery finds, which constitute the primary material group of this study, shed light on the history of the Ordu province in particular and the Eastern Black Sea region in general. A total of 284 ceramic fragments, dated to the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages, have been cataloged as part of this study. Based on the analyzed pieces, the Melet River Basin clearly demonstrates a connection between the protohistoric cultures of Central Anatolia and the Karaz-Early Transcaucasian culture of Eastern Anatolia. Additionally, the research highlights the strategic role of the region's mineral resources in the development of cultural and economic networks. In this context, the findings of the OMHAY project contribute significantly to understanding the historical and cultural heritage of the region and serve as a crucial foundation for future studies.