The Chalcolithic Period of The Kuseyr Plateau: A Regional Analysis of Pottery Evidence from the 6th to 4th Millennium BC

This study presents Chalcolithic period pottery data obtained through archaeological surface surveys conducted on the Kuseyr Plateau in Hatay, Türkiye. These data, obtained from the previously uninvestigated highland area of Northwest Syria, contribute to the understanding of the multifaceted and still insufficiently understood process of transition from early village to complex settlements. The findings indicate that not only the fertile alluvial plains but also the higher plateau were inhabited during this period. This research is based on pottery recovered during surveys from prehistoric settlements ranging in size from approximately one to five hectares. Variations in the settlement patterns of the plateau suggest that the region may have been occupied by communities with different subsistence strategies. The survey results show that the Kuseyr Plateau was continuously occupied throughout the Chalcolithic period. The pottery repertoire of the Chalcolithic period reflects technological developments ranging from small-scale household production to standardised, mass-produced vessels. The pottery shows techno-typological parallels to neighbouring regions, particularly in the Ubaid and post-Ubaid phases. This indicates that the plateau was interacting with groups in the Amuq Plain, Northwest Syria, Cilicia, and the Euphrates regions. These preliminary findings highlight the potential of the Kuseyr Plateau to address unresolved questions about the Chalcolithic period in the region, refine the regional chronology, and deepen our understanding of early social transformation processes through more comprehensive and interdisciplinary archaeological research. Future archaeological research will undoubtedly allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the regional role of the Kuseyr Plateau during the Chalcolithic period, its social dynamics, and the interregional communication and interactions.