Elazığ Prehistoric Archaeological Survey (EPAS) 2021

This article presents the preliminary results of the second field season (2021) of archaeological surveys conducted in Elazığ province for documenting prehistoric settlements. In this second field season of EPAS Project that encompasses the investigation of settlements dating from the Neolithic Period to the end of the Bronze Ages in the Central District of the Elazığ Province, surveys covered the vicinity of Kuzova and Hankendi Plains. In 2021, 22 previously registered and unregistered archaeological sites were identified in total, 15 of which date to prehistoric periods. Although the focus of this regional survey project is prehistoric/protohistoric periods (from the Neolithic to the end of the Bronze Ages), 7 additional sites dating to later periods (Iron Age – Middle Ages) encountered in the research area were also documented, as reported here, and, when necessary, recommended to the Regional Board for registration. EPAS is the first systematic survey project conducted in Elazığ following a long hiatus in field research after the Keban Project, which was a milestone in the archaeology of the region.