Excavation to shed light on ancient food culture

Excavations at Uşaklı Mound in the village of Büyük Taşlık, Sorgun, Yozgat, are investigating ancient architectural structures, as well as culinary culture and agricultural products. Surface surveys began in 2008 and excavations began in 2012. Uşaklı Mound contains the world's oldest known mosaic, consisting of 3,147 stones measuring 3x7 meters.

The excavation team is tracing the Hittite culinary culture by investigating seeds planted in ancient times, along with historical findings at the mound. Associate Professor Dr. Anacleto D'agostino, a faculty member at the University of Pisa in Italy and the head of the excavations, told an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter that the 18th excavation season at Uşaklı Mound is underway.

D'agostino, noting that the historical site is an important settlement dating back to 3000 BC, said, "There was a continuous settlement here until the Roman and late Roman periods. Therefore, the sequential nature of these settlements is important to us. Furthermore, according to our knowledge of the Hittite period, the earliest patterned mosaic floor has been found in the Near East or in a region encompassing the Mediterranean basin. A round structure, which we believe had ceremonial significance, was also found from the Hittite period."

D'agostino, explaining that DNA analyses of the remains found in the graves during the excavations were also carried out, said, "We can see how people lived in the past, how they adapted to changing climate or environmental conditions over time, what they ate and drank, how their agricultural products changed."

Burnt seeds are detected by the water flotation technique

Dr. Yağmur Heffron, a lecturer at University College London and vice president of the excavation, stated that they worked at the excavation site for 60 days.

Heffron stated that attempts were made to identify burnt seeds found in excavations using the floating technique, and noted the following:

"With this technique, organic matter within the soil during excavation can often be burnt seeds or plant remains. Organic matter that has carbonized after a fire is exposed. Using the flotation technique, we collect the seeds that rise to the surface, dry them, and then send them for analysis under a microscope in the laboratory. This allows us to understand how agricultural activities developed here in past periods, what was grown, what was eaten and drunk."