Archaeobotanical Studies at Sumaki Höyük (Batman, Turkey) in 2014

Our study focuses on the archaeobotanical analyses of 2014 season of the Sumaki Höyük, which is located east of Beşiri town in Batman province. It was excavated within the framework of Ilısu Dam and HES project by the Batman Museum at the charge of Dr. Aslı Erim Özdoğan.Sumaki Höyük yields Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (LPPNB) and Early Pottery Neolithic, namely Pre-Proto Hassuna and Proto Hassuna phases, dated to 7310 - 7040 cal BC - 6480 - 6400 cal BC. The uppermost phase is a small farm or a district belongs to Abbasid / Hamdani Periods dated to cal. 770-890 AD. Most of the 2014 botanical samples are collected from the phases dated between cal. 7030-6580 BC and cal. 6830-6470 BC. The archaeobotanical remains were obtained by flotation of 348 lt soil of 45 samples that were collected from different loci at Sumaki Höyük. The remains are preserved either by carbonizing or mineralizing. Two domesticated families Poaceae and Fabaceae are predominant. The earliest domesticated form of wheat Triticum dicoccon (Schrank) Schübl. Grains, as well as pieces of spikelet forks, are determined. Among the Fabaceae family Lens culinaris Medik. (lentil), Vicia ervilia (L.) Willld. (bitter vetch), Pisum sativum L. (garden pea) and Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) species are vegetal source of nutrition of semi-nomadic inhabitants of Sumaki Höyük. The existence of Linum L. (Linen) might be the indicator of weaving and/or oil consumption.