Abstract:

The Northeastern Anatolian Region is home to important obsidian deposits due to its geological structure. The volcanic fields, mainly located on the Erzurum-Kars Plateau, constitute the main obsidian sources of the region. Hilly areas to the north of Söğütlü on the west of Erzurum, southwest of Palandöken Mountain, Pasinler and its surroundings are important territories where obsidian deposits have been identified. Pasinler district gained its geological character as a result of tectonic movements that took place in the late Pliocene and Pleistocene. External igneous rocks such as andesite, basalt and obsidian are widely distributed in the district and its immediate surroundings. Pasinler was one of our study areas during the surface surveys we initiated in the region in 1998. A large number of pottery and obsidian have been identified during our studies in Pasinler. Despite the advanced obsidian analysis methods, only a few of the centers in our study area were analyzed. In addition to important obsidian centers in the district and its surroundings, such as Kotandüzü, Pelitli and Tımar, it is thought as a result of researches implemented in Cin Castle, Çalıyazı Castle, Kavuşturan Castle and Sos Höyük that these centers may also be important obsidian workshops. Furthermore, it has been proved by realized analysis that the obsidian deposits and workshops in Pasinler partially met the needs of the nearby centers, and that they were also exchanged and traded with centers kilometers away.

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