This week has yet again been a busy and productive one on our four trenches, and we have two unique finds to showcase.
The first emerged from Trench M – a large, decorated, shell bead. Identified as a Dentalium shell imported from the Mediterranean, the find is remarkable, not only due to its size – at c. 3cm it is one of the largest marine shell beads found at the site – but also for its red and white surfaces. Evidence for paint at Boncuklu has mostly been found within the buildings on a variety of plaster surfaces. This is one of the few examples of colouring use on a different medium.
The second find was from Trench P – a small decorated piece of stone. Whilst one of the smallest of our decorated items, engraved with what is now clearly a common motif of parallel lines, the most remarkable aspect of this items is its light red to cream raw material which we have not seen elsewhere on the site. Despite its small size the item saw further use after it had been broken, an indication of curation of a prized exotic material.
Follow