The Early Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC)

In Anatolia the Early Bronze Age began in 3000 B.C. with the first use of copper and tin alloy. The period is itself divided into three phases - early, middle and late.

The alloy bronze, obtained by admixture of copper and tin, caused great changes in both the ideas and the life style of communities. Being easily cast and tough, bronze began to be used in the production of such diversive articles as weapons, household utensils and even ornaments. As a result, there emerged the separate craft of metal working, which demanded continuous production, and division of labour arose of necessity within groups.

Particularly in the cultivation sector, progress was made as the sowing of seed on small plots of land was replaced by the ploughing of large tracts in order to increase yields; that is agricultural methods of production evolved. For this purpose metal ploughs were made, and in consequence the stone implement industry began to decline.

Increases in the surplus of certain products in certain sectors led to the establishment of relations between communities. Seals were made for the purpose of identifying property. Trade disputes or the urge to possess more land caused measures to be taken to safeguard inhabited areas, and thus arose the use of walls as protection.

Division of labour meant that people had to live all together in one place, so that settlements took on the aspect of towns. In most cases people lived in square planned or megaron type dwellings. Through the numerous finds of stone and earthenware spindles, looms and metal or bone needles, it is known that domestic life was centred of weaving.

Vessels were made of bronze or earthenware; hand-made ceramic specimens exhibit the sharp outlines of the metal ones. Metal brooches (fibulae), pins, bracelets, combs and suchlike ornaments for personal adornments were fashioned not only from bone and earthenware but to a large extent from bronze also.

The people of the Early Bronze Age venerated the dead and believed that they continued to live after death. For this reason, they buried their dead in enormous jars (pithoi) or in prominent situations, leaving many kinds of weapons, vessels, and articles of adornment by their side.

Writing was unknown in Anatolia in the Early Bronze Age, when settlements showed such wide distribution over the area. Information concerning them has therefore been obtained from Mesopotamian tablets engraved with cuneiform characters and from finds made during excavations.

Lying within the borders of the Elmali district of our region, Karatas-Semayuk is among the most important of the Anatolian Early Bronze Age centres of settlement.