People

Doctoral research student Safak Nergiz, M.A.

Doctoral research student

Safak Nergiz (Turkey, 1979)

M.A. in Archaeology / Prehistory

PhD project
Settlement Patterns in Eastern Thrace (Turkey) during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods.
This project concerns Eastern Thrace, a region critically located between Anatolia and the Balkans. It should be thought of as a contact point between these past cultures. Accordingly, it is anticipated that obtained results from the studies conducted in this region enable us to correlate the cultural sequences of either region. With this objective in mind, a project has been initiated by Prof. Mehmet Özdo?an of the Department of Prehistory at Istanbul University for a surface survey of prehistoric sites in this region. Through the conducted survey it was possible to cover a considerable part of Eastern Thrace. Accordingly, the results of the surface surveys should be considered as preliminary reconnaissance. Thereafter, a number of excavations were conducted in later stages of the project so as to define cultural sequences and material assemblages.

As a preliminary assessment the focused region reveals the presence of a number of distinctly conserved habitats in the region: in the mountain environment in the north reach all sorts of resources, including minerals such as copper, iron and silver as well as metamorphic rock were observed. In a transitional zone between the mountain and the endemic step environment following the foothills of the Istranca range particular sources of water were evident. The endemic step environment included extensive areas suitable for farming though also having stands of open-forest. Here a revenue habitat existed with parallel drainage in a north-south direction of small streams flowing in rich alluvial valleys occasionally forming swamps and wetlands.

In spite of the presence of a number of distinct environmental settings, Eastern Thrace presents a rather complex geomorphological process of neo-tectonic erosion and colluvial deposition. Changing preferences for site locations through time were observed during the surveys, but no thorough evaluation of the survey results had been carried out from this perspective. Even geo-archaeological research carried out in the region is limited with respect to the determination of sources and there is no work that specifies the relation between settlements, resources, and workshops. Therefore, no attention was given to the distinctions the settlements had with respect to the periods, their geographical distribution and their relation to the natural environment.

Thus, the main objective of the project presented here is to revaluate the available information from Eastern Thrace from an environmental perspective so as to define changing trends inside locations and to understand the interaction between culture and its natural environment. With this extension of the abovementioned project currently some information has been obtained to date, such as site location preferences, utilization of the environment and influence of these effects for mound formations. Accordingly, besides the expansion of cultures, progress has been made to understand the factors that influenced cultural development in the region.
Research interests Anatolian Archaeology, Near Eastern Prehistory, Balkan Prehistory, Neolithic Transition, Neolithisation.
Education

Since April 2010
Member of the Graduate School “Human Development in Landscapes”, Christian-Albrecht-University Kiel

2008
Master degree in Istanbul University with a thesis on the Near Eastern Neolithic respect to symbolism in the social structure.

2003
Graduated at Department of Prehistory, Istanbul University.

Work experience

Since 2005
Survey in Kirklareli, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in surveys of Istanbul University. Director: Prof. Dr. M. Özdogan and co-director Dr. E. Özdogan.

Since 2000
Excavation at Asagipinar Mound, Kirklareli, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic excavations of Istanbul University and DAI. Director: Prof. Dr. M. Özdogan and Prof Dr. H. Parzinger.

2000 - 2009
Excavation at Kanligeçit Mound, Kirklareli, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in the Early Bronze Age excavations of Istanbul University and DAI. Director: Prof. Dr. M. Özdogan and Prof. Dr. H. Parzinger.

2005
Excavation at Ayasuluk Mound, Izmir, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in the Bronze Age excavation of Museum of Ephesus.

2000 - 2003
Excavation at Mezraa Teleilat, Sanliurfa, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Iron Age excavations of Istanbul University. Director: Prof. Dr. M. Özdogan and co-director Assoc. Prof. N. Karul.

2002
Excavation in Hosköy, Near Tekirdag, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in Roman and Byzantine periods excavation of Tekirdag Musium; to determine the areas of archaeological importance in Hosköy.

2001
Survey in Birecik-Suruç, Sanliurfa, Turkey
• Participation as a field supervisor in survey of Istanbul University. Director: Prof. Dr. M. Özdogan and co-director Assoc. Prof. N. Karul.

Selected publications 2011
A Preliminary Evaluation of the Interaction Between Culture and Its Natural Environment in The Eastern Thrace (oral). Open Workshop; Socio-Environmental Dynamics over the Last 12,000 Years: The Creation of Landscapes II. Kiel/Germany. 15th of March 2011.
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