Kaletepe Creek
Kaletepe Creek is located at the foot of Göllüdağ, one of the largest volcanoes in Central Anatolia, about 1600 meters above sea level. Volcanic activity in the region has produced obsidian, a natural glass from which prehistoric communities made their tools. The archaeological stratigraphy here contains evidence of various human settlements, the most recent dating back more than 160,000 years. Such a long period of Palaeolithic stratigraphy is of great importance not only for Central Anatolia, but also for Turkey, the Near East and even Eastern Europe. This stratigraphy, which reflects the evolution of the Acheul culture, is unique for Anatolia. This open-air site, which is still being excavated, is one of the most important Palaeolithic sites in Turkey and the only one known so far that can answer questions about the early occupation of the Anatolian Peninsula.The Pleistocene stratigraphy, called Kaletepe Creek 3, where Palaeolithic studies continue, was discovered in 2000 during the excavations of the Neolithic obsidian workshop. The excavations of the Kaletepe Obsidian volcanic glass workshop, which dates back to 600 thousand years ago, are being carried out under the leadership of the Niğde Museum under the scientific supervision of Prof. Dr. Nur Balkan Atlı from Istanbul University.
