Bahattin ÇELİK

Since 2013, survey has been carried out within the boundaries of Şanlıurfa Central District on the Neolithic period and before. Surveys were continued in 2018, and Neolithic and other period sites and trap areas were identified. In 2018 our researches were carried out in the Tektek Mountains region, which is located approximately 50 km to 100 km away from the southeast of Şanlıurfa. This is mostly a rocky region and has very high plateaus. In the Tektek Mountains region, wild peanut trees were abundant in the beginning and there were very rarely a large number of gazelle populations in the past. Because of this, from the prehistoric periods to today there has been a very intense settling. Especially, during the Neolithic period and afterwards, this dense settling represents itself with slope settlements. According to the researches, 50 slope settlements have been identified in the region since 2013. The trap areas, which we think they were first made in the Neolithic period and continued to have been used in the later periods, constituted the main theme of our research during 2018. As a result of the researches of 2018, 16 trap areas were identified. Some of the trap areas were found on the north-western, eastern and southern sides of the Karahan Tepe Neolithic Center. Some of them were found in the north-east of the Harbetsuvan Tepesi Neolithic Center. In addition to this, many Late Roman settlements have been identified in 2018. Our research in 2018 once again showed the relationship between the Neolithic centers and the trap areas.

Keywords: Şanlıurfa, Neolithic Period, Trap Areas, Slope Settlements, Karahan Tepe, Harbetsuvan Tepesi, Tektek Mountains, Bronze Age