Since the summer of 2015, research work has focussed on the Şarkli Mağara, a more than 80 m long and almost 8 m high rock overhang on the western slope of Keber Tepe. The Şarkli Mağara was repeatedly used as a shelter by hunter-gatherer groups in prehistoric times, as the first excavations, which took place in the 1970s and 1980s under Turkish direction, have shown. Palaeolithic flint tools and animal bones were discovered in the process. The excavations have now been resumed by the Asia Minor Research Centre. The finds made so far prove that humans have been present for quite a long time, at least 500/300,000 years before today.

Even before work began on the Şarkli Mağara, it was possible to establish that it not only harboured prehistoric traces, but that people had also left their mark here in historical times. This can be seen in the form of chambers and niches carved into the rock, as well as the remains of an ancient, probably imperial quarry. Connections to the neighbouring sanctuary to the south can be assumed here.

Prehistoric research in Doliche initially focusses on questions of chronology, i.e. when were people present in Doliche. Subsequently, questions concerning the complex of human-environment relationships will be clarified, such as how humans utilised their environment, which tails they had, which natural resources were used and which were not, at which times of the year were humans present in the region?

Of particular interest in this context is the fact that there are natural flint deposits on the hill directly opposite Şarkli Mağara, at Çimșit Tepe, which scatter out of the limestone here. At Çimșit Tepe, pieces of raw flint were prepared, reworked into basic moulds and tools and taken along for further use – also to Şarkli Mağara. This is a rare finding, as there are very few well-documented cases in palaeolithic research in which the dwelling place (Şarkli Mağara) and the work site (Çimșit Tepe) are so close together. This finding emphasises the great potential of Şarkli Mağara for prehistoric research,

especially as Turkey is something of a black hole in Palaeolithic research – the great period of hunter-gatherer societies (approx. 2.5 million to 10,000 BC). Excavation results have rarely been published to a sufficient extent and the number of such excavations is also manageable. It is therefore a great gain that the Doliche project provides the opportunity to conduct research in this area.