A Newly Discovered Early Bronze Age Settlement in the Western Black Sea Region: Çaylı Höyük

Despite the presence of numerous settlements dating back to the Early Bronze Age (EBA) across many regions of Anatolia, this period is relatively poorly documented in the Western Black Sea Region. Considering that the known settlements from this era in the region are predominantly caves, the discovery of new tell-type settlements through recent research can be viewed as a significant finding. For this reason, the study of the archaeological material culture of Çaylı Höyük, which was identified during new surveys conducted in the Eskipazar district of Karabük, is of great importance. Çaylı Höyük is poised to make substantial contributions to the research history of the Protohistoric period in the Western Black Sea Region with its pottery tradition—largely represented by the Filyos culture—along with weaving implements and chipped stone tools. Although a general dating has only been established based on the material culture collected from the surface, the presence of characteristic potteries such as black-topped bowls, biconical spindle whorls, and protohistoric stone tools suggests that the settlement was likely inhabited for a short duration during a single phase in the Early Bronze Age. It is hypothesized that the tell was established on a travertine quarry, probably for the purpose of raw material acquisition and recent research indicates that many settlements belonging to this era are also present in the immediate vicinity of the mound.