Recent excavations have unearthed an 8,500-year-old obsidian mirror alongside a collection of finely crafted obsidian tools, presenting a unique window into early Neolithic craftsmanship and symbolic practices.
The investigative unit, headed by Associate Professor Adnan Baysal from Ankara University, is currently examining the region’s deeply entrenched Neolithic heritage, which either predates or coexists with renowned sites such as Çatalhöyük.
Key among this season’s significant finds is the highly polished obsidian mirror, estimated to date back to around 6500 BCE. Mirrors fashioned from volcanic glass are uncommon artifacts, demanding sophisticated manufacturing techniques and holding considerable cultural weight.
These discoveries were brought to light during the second phase of excavations at the Canhasan mounds, located within the village of Alacatı in Karaman, conducted under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future” project.
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