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G-FGC5081*
CGG_2_022283: Resuloglu Höyük, Turkey
2600 BC
G-FGC5081*
CGG_2_022283: Resuloglu Höyük, Turkey
2600 BC
G-M406>FGC5089>FGC5081*
G-M406>FGC5089>FGC5081*
Sample name: CGG_2_022283
Sample Type: Ancient
Grave: M164
Date: 2600 BC
Country: Turkey
Native place: , Resuloglu Höyük
Ethnicgroup: Hattic
Y-haplogroup: G-M406/FGC5081* (S18399)
MT-haplogroup: H2a
Gender: Male
Age:
Coverage: 0.139518586
G25:
Data source: Ancient genomics support deep divergence between Eastern and Western Mediterranean Indo-European languages
Key Cultural Context:
CGG_2_022283 was found in a jar grave M164 in Resuloğlu necropolis with an opening that would have been directed towards east-southeast, north, or south. Along with the remains were a frit* necklace and two bronze pins. The people of the Resuloğlu necropolis are associated with the Early Bronze Age culture of Central Anatolia, which is often linked to the Hattian culture. This attribution is based on the region, burial practices, and artifacts found at the site. The Resuloğlu necropolis dates to the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE (Early Bronze Age III), a period characterized by the rise of early urban centers and regional interactions in Anatolia. The burial practices, such as the use of stone cist graves and jar burials, align with other sites in the Hattian cultural sphere, including prominent sites like Alaca Höyük. Ritual practices involving cattle skulls and forelimbs found in some graves also connect the site to known Hattian funerary traditions. Personal adornments, weapons (bronze daggers and axes), and pottery found in graves are indicative of Hattian metallurgy and craftsmanship, which flourished in Central Anatolia before the arrival of Indo-European Hittites. The Resuloğlu community lived during a time when Hattian culture dominated Central Anatolia, preceding the arrival of the Indo-European-speaking Hittites, who would later establish their empire in the region around the early 2nd millennium BCE. Thus, the Resuloğlu population can be identified as part of the broader Hattian cultural tradition, contributing to the early development of complex societies in Anatolia.
*According to Wikipedia: "Archaeologists have found evidence of frit in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. The definition of frit as a sintered, polycrystalline, unglazed material can be applied to these archaeological contexts. It is typically colored blue or green."
Resuloğlu Excavation Transcript: Translated From Turkish
Resuloğlu Excavation Transcript: Translated From Turkish
The sun's first rays strike the ground as shovels begin their work, initiating a long journey into the past to shed light on history for future generations. One of the excavations illuminating the cultural richness of the Hattians in northern Central Anatolia is Resuloğlu. In 1996, surface surveys began in this region on behalf of Ankara University. This area had been somewhat neglected in terms of historical research, and during the initial surveys, significant discoveries were made, contributing valuable findings to world archaeology. By 1998, the exploration of the mounds in the Delice Valley commenced.
The Resuloğlu excavations have revealed fascinating insights into the social life of the Hattians, the indigenous people believed to have preceded the Hittite culture in the 3rd millennium BCE. Near the settlement, a cemetery with an estimated population of 300–400 individuals was unearthed. These burials provided crucial information about burial practices in the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE.
The excavation team begins their day early, preparing for the day's work after breakfast and heading to the site by 5 a.m. The journey to the excavation area requires traversing rough terrain and carrying equipment on foot. Initially, there were concerns among team members about the unfamiliar environment, but they quickly adapted. The settlement unearthed in Resuloğlu is situated on a mound overlooking the Delice Valley, strategically located for trade. It appears to have been a well-fortified area with walls as high as two meters, containing hearths, ovens, and living spaces.
The excavation also uncovered silos used for grain storage, reaching a count of 56 so far. These silos vary in size and depth, primarily containing barley and wheat, along with other food items. This suggests that Resuloğlu was a key location for both agriculture and trade during the Early Bronze Age. Evidence indicates the settlement's abandonment aligns with the "4.2-kiloyear event," a major climate shift that caused severe droughts around 2200 BCE. After a long hiatus of over 1,000 years, the area saw reoccupation during the Iron Age, although there remains a significant gap between these periods.
Excavation work involves meticulous recording and restoration of artifacts. Pottery and other materials from the Early Bronze Age are reconstructed and analyzed, providing insights into the daily lives, diets, and burial customs of the inhabitants. These findings contribute significantly to understanding settlement models and the cultural practices of the region.
The team concludes each day by documenting and organizing their findings, followed by a communal dinner. Resuloğlu provides invaluable data on burial customs, settlement patterns, and the sociocultural dynamics of the Early Bronze Age. The ongoing excavation offers a glimpse into the heritage of the civilizations that once thrived in these lands.
With respect for the past, the Resuloğlu excavations continue to uncover the traces of history, enriching our understanding of the civilizations that shaped the region.
General Summary
The study investigates the genetic and linguistic divergence among Indo-European-speaking populations in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, focusing on the spread of steppe-related ancestry. By analyzing genomes from 314 ancient individuals, combined with published data, the research identifies distinct patterns of ancestry linked to Bell Beaker populations in Western Europe and Yamnaya groups in Eastern Europe. These findings align with linguistic hypotheses, such as the Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian subclades, and reject alternatives like the Indo-Greek model. The Indo-Greek model is a linguistic hypothesis groups Greek and Indo-Iranian languages (including Sanskrit, Persian, and others) as closely related branches within the IE family tree.
The findings relay that Ancient Anatolian genomes primarily exhibit ancestry from local Neolithic farmers, Caucasus Hunter-Gatherers (CHG), and minor Iranian Neolithic contributions. Middle Bronze Age populations, especially in Central Anatolia, show increased CHG ancestry, likely tied to interactions with the Kura-Araxes culture. During the Iron Age, steppe ancestry appears in small proportions, resembling patterns found in Balkan and Greek Late Bronze Age populations.
Cultural and Genetic Links:
Steppe ancestry in Anatolia, though minor, suggests connections with neighboring regions like the Balkans and Greece during the late Bronze and early Iron Ages. The spread of CHG ancestry into Anatolia through the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages indicates long-standing interactions with the Caucasus and Levant.
The genetic evidence does not explicitly tie the observed steppe ancestry to the Hittites but supports the hypothesis that Indo-European-speaking groups entered Central Anatolia during the Bronze Age. The Hittites' presence in the region, documented historically by the early 2nd millennium BCE, fits within this timeframe. Their genetic and cultural integration with local populations would align with the study's findings of mixed ancestries in the region.
2.12.2. Resuloğlu, Çorum province
Latitude: 40.426, Longitude: 34.193
Sample provider: İzzet Duyar, Derya Atamtürk, and Tayfun Yıldırım.
İzzet Duyar, Derya Atamtürk
The Resuloğlu cemetery and the nearby settlement are situated in the province of Çorum (Central Anatolia, Turkey) and dated to the Early Bronze Age (EBA III). The archaeological excavations started by Tayfun Yıldırım in 2003 and were completed in 2019. Over 200 graves have been unearthed during excavations in the necropolis area. Although the existence of different types of graves in the necropolis has been identified, approximately ¼ of the skeletons were buried in pithos type tombs. The second most common burial type is the cist grave with a rate of 21.7%.
Anthropological and osteological investigations of human skeletons recovered from the cemetery are ongoing. The preliminary analysis of 115 skeletons has been completed so far. The series includes individuals of all ages. A significant part of the skeletons died in middle and/or young adulthood, and the number of subadult skeletons is 34 of the 80 skeletons whose sex was determined, 45 are female and 35 are male. 13 individuals were sampled for the present study (Table 10).
Paleopathological observations revealed that joint degenerations are quite common (52.5%) among Resuloğlu residents. In addition, the presence of infectious and metabolic diseases has also been detected. Genetic originated disorders or anomalies such as sacralization and spina bifida are also seen in the population. The most important point that draws attention in the examination of the Resuloğlu skeletons in terms of oral health is the high rate of dental calculus. Dental calculus developed in 970 (79.77%) of the 1216 teeth examined. The rate of tooth decay in the population is 3.74%, abscess is 2.34% and ante mortem tooth loss is 3.22%.
Year of excavation: Grave nr./type/sample nr. Burial Goods.
2003: M2 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022280): A white-black stone, carnelian necklace.
14C: 4036±36BP, cal. BP 4784-4416 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2003: M11 (Cist grave) (CGG_2_022289): Two bronze pins, necklace’ beads made of faience, bronze, carnelian, frit
2003: M16 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022276): A spouted red juglet.
14C: 4068±34BP, cal. BP 4798-4425 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2003: M20/1 (Cist grave) (CGG_2_022291): A black slipped and polished vase, stone beads, a head of pin, a golden plate, a piece of broken bronze cup.
14C: 3860±36BP, cal. BP 4410-4154 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2004: M37 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022284): No grave goods.
14C: 4172±36BP, cal. BP 4834-4580 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2006: M120 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022281): Necklace' beads made of stone, frit, and bronze, two earrings, a bronze pin
2006: M148 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022285): A bronze earring, a necklace made of carnelian, bronze, shells, and frit.
14C: 3844±33BP, cal. BP 4405-4151 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2006: M149 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022288): No grave goods
2006: M151 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022278): No grave goods
2007: M164 (Jar grave) (CGG_2_022283): Frit necklace, two bronze pins
2007: M170 (Jar grave) (CGG_2_022277): Two earrings, stone beads.
14C: 3852±33BP, cal. BP 4406-4153 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2007: M179/1 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022279): Two bronze pins.
14C: 3864±37BP, cal. BP 4411-4155 (see Suppl. Tab. S9)2007: M190/1 (Pithos grave) (CGG_2_022282): Two bronze pins, a torque, a hair ring made of silver
Additional Sources:
Resuloğlu Skeleton Anthropological Analysis, is an archaeological and anthropological report on human remains excavated from the Resuloğlu necropolis in Uğurludağ, Çorum, Turkey. Atamtürk, D. & Duyar, İ. Resuloğlu (Uğurludağ, Çorum) iskeletlerinin antropolojik analizi. Arkeometri Sonuçları Toplantısı 25, 311–328 (2009).
The Resuloğlu settlement and necropolis are located northwest of the Resuloğlu (Kaleboynu) village in the Uğurludağ district, about 28 km from the district center. The necropolis, dated to the Early Bronze Age (2nd half of the 3rd millennium BCE), is one of the rare systematically studied cemeteries in Northern Central Anatolia. Excavations began in 2003, with ongoing work revealing 240 graves to date.
The graves are categorized into two main types: stone cist graves (13 identified) and jar burials (70 identified). A single soil grave was also found. Burials typically feature skeletal remains laid on their sides (right or left) or in a supine position. Most were in a fetal or semi-fetal position, with arms bent and hands near the jaw. No uniform grave orientation was observed, but, stone cist graves were mostly east-west oriented, jar graves had openings directed towards east-southeast, north, or south. Grave goods included personal adornments (jewelry), metal weapons, and pottery, often placed inside or beside the graves. Some graves contained cattle skulls and forelimbs, a practice associated with burial rituals, also seen at Alaca Höyük.
The report provides insights into the demography, health, and lifestyle of the Resuloğlu population based on skeletal analysis.
A total of 112 individuals were analyzed from 2003–2007 excavations,
44 women
35 men
31 children/infants (whose sex was indeterminate).
Age distribution:
Children (0–12 years): ~29%.
Young adults (20–35 years): ~20%.
Middle-aged adults (35–50 years): ~36% (largest group).
Elderly (50+ years): ~9%.
Mortality was high in children under five, indicating health challenges.
Joint Diseases: Over 50% of adults had degenerative joint diseases, particularly in the upper body and spine, reflecting physically demanding activities.
Infectious Diseases: Signs of infections were observed in 5.4% of skeletons, particularly in children, suggesting high vulnerability during early years.
Congenital Malformations: Conditions like spina bifida and sacralization were noted in a few individuals.
Dental Health: High rates of dental issues, including tartar, tooth wear, and periodontal diseases, were observed. Tooth decay was rare (~4%), likely due to a diet rich in unrefined grains causing high dental wear.
Conclusions
The Resuloğlu population faced significant health challenges, including infections, heavy physical labor, and malnutrition-related diseases like rickets in one individual. The presence of grave goods and specific burial customs indicates complex social and cultural practices. Skeletal analysis suggests minimal gender-based differences in labor, as both men and women appeared to engage in physically intensive activities.
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