ÇANKIRI SALUR: AN EARLY BRONZE AGE CEMETERY AT THE NORTH-CENTRAL REGION OF ANATOLIA

The Çankırı Museum carried out short-term excavations in 2008 at Salur Cemetery, which is located near the village of Salur at the Orta district within the province of Çankırı in northcentral Anatolia. Twenty severely damaged pithos graves and stone-covered simple earth graves were uncovered. These grave types and grave finds have demonstrated significant similarities with contemporary material from the sites at north/central Anatolia and interior of western Anatolia. By means of close parallels from such sites, this study will determine a relative chronology, in addition to introducing the contents of this cemetery, which dates to the Early Bronze Age. Other objectives of this study include the introduction to wider audiences the under-investigated material culture of the Çankırı region, which includes the core of what is traditionally known as the ‘Hatti’ lands and the articulation of archaeological resources for future topics of research.