Cereal processing at Early Neolithic Göbekli Tepe, southeastern Turkey

Area of Science:

• Archaeology
• Paleoethnobotany
• Experimental Archaeology

Background:

• Göbekli Tepe, an Early Neolithic site in southeastern Anatolia, features monumental architecture and has been subject to extensive archaeological debate.
• Previous research on Göbekli Tepe's subsistence primarily focused on zooarchaeological evidence, neglecting plant food processing.
• The site comprises monumental round buildings and smaller, contemporaneous rectangular structures, with a notable abundance of food processing tools.

Observation:

• Over 7000 artifacts were analyzed, revealing a high frequency of grinding slabs, handstones, pestles, and mortars, unusual for contemporary sites.
• Formal, experimental, and use-wear analyses demonstrated the production of standardized, efficient grinding tools.
• Phytolith analysis confirmed the significant presence of cereals, complementing limited macro-remains.

Findings:

• Neolithic inhabitants at Göbekli Tepe extensively processed cereals using specialized grinding tools.
• Plant food preparation was strongly associated with the rectangular buildings, indicating defined work areas.
• Evidence suggests food was produced for immediate consumption, with seasonal hunting peaks and no identified large storage facilities.

Implications:

• The findings indicate a sophisticated organization of labor and food supply at Göbekli Tepe, essential for constructing monumental architecture.
• The scale of plant and animal food processing suggests organized large work feasts, potentially linked to communal activities.
• This study provides crucial archaeobotanical evidence, reshaping our understanding of Early Neolithic subsistence strategies and social organization at Göbekli Tepe.