Körtik Tepe İnsanlarında Gündelik Yaşam: İskelet Kas Tutunma Bölgelerinin Analizleriyle Hareket Biçiminin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Bones have the capacity of flexibility to change their morphology in order to compensate the physical pressure. Muscle mass increases as a result of compelling repetitive movements which are frequently done in daily life. Increased muscle mass need to attach the bones more tightly. As a result, bones show remodeling on the muscle attachment surfaces. The degree of physical pressure and locomotion models can be determined to reconstruct the daily life of ancient human populations by analyzing the changings on the muscle and ligament attachments. The aim of this study is to investigate the lifestyle of sedentary hunter gatherers by analyzing the physical pressure and locomotion models in their daily life. Within the scope of this study, some of the skeletons unearthed from Körtik Tepe archaeological excavations were analyzed. Körtik Tepe located in the province of Diyarbakır; Bismil is dated to Pre-Pottery Neolithic A. Early settling at Körtik Tepe was started at Younger Dryas Pollen Period. The material of this study consists of 178 adult individuals. While there are 84 males and 85 females, the sex of 9 individuals is undetermined. Among the individuals with determined age, 63 individuals are young adults, 55 are mid-adults and 17 are old adults. However, the ages of 43 adult individuals cannot be estimated. 2 ligaments and 40 muscle attachment areas belonging to upper and lower extremities were analyzed. Generally, the developmental degrees of these muscle and ligament attachment areas are slight. Costaclavicular ligament, conoid ligament, deltoideus, pectoralis major on upper arm; and brachialis, brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus, pronator quadratus and supinator on forearm are developed more than the other attachment areas on upper extremity. The development of these muscle and ligament attachments indicates compelling shoulder movements and fine hand movements. As for the lower extremity, the attachments of gluteus maximus, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis, gastrocnemius and soleus are developed more than thevii others. The development of these attachments on the lower limb points to the activities such as walking, short distance running and climbing. On comparing the muscle attachment areas of both sexes, it can be stated that there is no division of labor. However, muscle and ligament attachments related to shoulder movements are developed more in males, which shows that compelling shoulder movements were mostly done by male individuals. Age groups were also compared in order to determine the age factor in muscle attachment areas. It is observed that the developmental degree of muscle attachment areas increases significantly with age. Nevertheless, some young individuals have also marked muscle and ligament attachments. Consequently, it is observed that Körtik Tepe people did not expose to intense physical pressure in their daily life. Considering the muscle attachment areas, it can be said that hunting activities were carried out by the weapons thrown with one hand. As the archaeological data suggests mortars and pestles were used for food preparation. In addition, skeletal data is in accordance with the archaeological findings for the a