Exploring pre-neolithic environmental dynamics: paleoecology around the Göbekli Tepe based on a multiproxy approach in southeastern Türkiye

A significant increase in organic carbon values and the presence of deciduous forests during the early Holocene at Göbekli Tepe suggest favorable environmental conditions that supported ecological productivity. This finding, derived from a multiproxy analysis of soil samples, includes pollen analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) measurements, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental analysis. The study reveals that around 13,354 years BP, the region experienced colder and drier conditions with lower organic carbon values and greater abundances of herbaceous plants and steppes. In contrast, the early Holocene period showed higher Ca/Ti and Sr/Ti ratios, indicating intensified weathering and moisture availability, which contributed to the growth of deciduous forests. These insights provide a detailed paleoecological context for understanding environmental dynamics during the pre-Neolithic era in southeastern Türkiye.

Biltekin, D., Güzel, A., Özcanlı, M., Gökgöz, D. D., & Akbıyık, M. (2024). Exploring pre-neolithic environmental dynamics: paleoecology around the Göbekli Tepe based on a multiproxy approach in southeastern Türkiye. Plant and Soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06548-3