13,000-Year-Old Tools and Ornaments Unearthed at Direkli Cave Detail Sophisticated Prehistoric Life

Ongoing archaeological work at Direkli Cave in the Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş has revealed significant artifacts dating back approximately 13,000 years. The recent excavation season, concluded by Professor Dr. Cevdet Merih Erek, Head of Excavation from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University's Archaeology Department, uncovered two finely crafted bone awls and four fragments of perforated beads. These findings continue a substantial record of discoveries at the site, which began nearly two decades ago.

Professor Erek suggested a functional specialization for the bone tools. One awl likely served for piercing hard materials such as stone beads, while the other may have been crucial for leatherworking and tailoring essential clothing. This observed division of labor, alongside the diversity of materials used, indicates a level of development considered surprisingly sophisticated for that prehistoric period. The four new bead fragments carry significant cultural implications, theorized to have been intended for the deceased, suggesting a deeply established cultural practice of honoring those who passed on.

The recovered beads are situated within the 7th archaeological stratum. Carbon-14 dating of this layer established an age of approximately 11,000 Years Before Present (BP), which translates to an estimated age of 13,000 years from the present day. Professor Erek noted the cave's geology acts as a slow recorder, with sediment accumulation rates so gradual that only 3 to 5 centimeters can represent one to two millennia. Deeper layers at the site hold the potential for even more ancient revelations.

The evidence from Direkli Cave, combined with findings from the nearby Eşek Deresi Cave, substantiates a distinct Anatolian cultural progression spanning from roughly 8,500 to 14,000 BP. This long-term habitation provides an invaluable perspective on the foundational human story in the region. The meticulous excavation work is focused on tracing the emergence of complex human organization and aesthetic expression in early Anatolia, illuminating how these early communities managed their material existence and honored life transitions.