4 ) Chalcolithic ( Copper Stone Age ) ( 5.500-3.000 B.C. )
The discovery of the metal
has resulted in the development of trade between the local or remote
civilizations, and they have established a well network of trading
centers where they had exchanged commodities. This caused the invention
and development of writing which they used to keep the record of their
inventories. Asia Minor that was the leader in urban development
and civilization during the Neolithic period has lost its leader
position towards the end of Chalcolithic Period, because Mesopotamia and
Egypt had invented writing and reached a high level of civilization.
Asia Minor has followed Mesopotamia and Egypt about 1,000 years late in
the invention of writing.
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Early Chalcolithic Period ( 5,500 - 4,500 BC.)
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Middle Chalcolithic Period ( 4,500 - 4,000 BC.)
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Late Chalcolithic Period ( 4,000- 3,000 BC.)
During this period of time,
the most striking development was the extensive use of Copper. Until
this period, the only material that the humankind had used to make their
weapons was natural stones. Now, they learned to process and shape this
metal copper to make strong weapons and also ornamentation. We also see
a considerable increase in the number of towns that scatter here or
there. The new towns of this period were usually built on the water or
in rich valleys. The great mother goddess of Asia Minor was the main
deity and they have made many figurines of this goddess which they used
in their religious rituals. The burials that were within the houses of
preceding Neolithic period now take place outside the towns.
Some important sites of
this period :
Hacilar, a site in the Southwest Turkey which gives the best examples of
pottery and artifacts of this period.
Other sites are: Beycesultan, Canhasan, Mersin Yumuktepe, Elazig Tepecik,
Malatya Degirmentepe, Norsuntepe, Istanbul Fikirtepe.
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