GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE MELENDIZ RIVER IN CAPPADOCIA (TURKEY): SETTING OF PRE-POTTERY NEOLITHIC SITES OF ASIKLI AND MUSULAR, AND CLIMATE RECONSTRUCTION DURING THE ONSET OF THE HOLOCENE

The reconstruction of the river dynamics in the Melendiz valley (Cappadocia, Turkey) is studied on the basis of geomorphology and archaeological data acquired from two Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) sites, i.e. dated c.a. 8300 to 7000 BC. Together with the study of terraces in the vicinity of the sites and the results of 3 cores retrieved from the alluvial fill of the floodplain, data enlighten climatic trends and changes as well as river environmental responses during a period spanning from the end of Late Glacial to 7000 BC (i.e., 9000 cal. BP). During the Last Glacial a gravel deposit accumulated in the valley, and this deposit was incised before the turn of the Late Glacial/Holocene. The incision of hydro-climatic origin was probably accentuated by tectonic uplift. When the PPN population arrived on the shores of the Melendiz River at the beginning of the Holocene, the valley was wide open between incised Last Glacial terraces, and the settlement occurred on a bed-load blanketing the valley floor (braided river). The relationships between archaeological layers and river deposition, conservation and erosion during the occupation of Asikli and Musular sites (ca. 8300 to 7000 BC) indicate depletion of precipitation during the first two millennia of the Holocene. Like in other regions located at the foot of mountainous ranges in central Anatolia, humidity rose together with runoff from upper basins, which was triggered by higher precipitations (rain and snow) on highlands