The Place Where the Rare Obsidian Mirrors of the Neolithic in Anatolia and the Near East Were Manufactured Has Been Found

LBV Magazine English Edition ^ | February 25, 2025 | Guillermo Carvajal

[SunkenCiv]

Luxury and prestige objects have existed in all human societies, and the Neolithic was no exception. Among the most intriguing artifacts of this period are the obsidian mirrors, finely crafted pieces whose function remains a subject of debate. Recent archaeological studies have allowed researchers to reconstruct their manufacturing and distribution process in Southwest Asia, particularly in Central Anatolia, where findings at the Tepecik Çiftlik site suggest that it may have been the key center for the production of these unique objects.

The mirrors, circular and highly polished, were not utilitarian tools but items with a strong symbolic component. Their rarity is remarkable: to date, only 56 specimens have been discovered throughout the Near East, distributed across six archaeological sites in Anatolia and one in the Levant...

Among the sites where these mirrors have been found, Tepecik Çiftlik stands out as a key location for understanding their production. Located in the Melendiz Plain, in the Cappadocia region, this settlement was occupied from the Neolithic to the Early Chalcolithic, between 7000 and 6000 BCE. Its proximity to natural obsidian sources, such as the Nenezidağ and Göllüdağ deposits, enabled its inhabitants to develop a specialized industry in cutting and polishing this volcanic material.

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the obsidian keyword, sorted:

• Çatalhöyük: "it's about the people" - 7,000 BC mega-site revealed. [35:20] [07/13/2024]
• Wichita State Professor Uncovers Forgotten Native Nation [12/08/2024]
• Çatalhöyük: "it's about the people" - 7,000 BC mega-site revealed. [35:20] [07/13/2024]
• Chiseled obsidian recovered from Neolithic shipwreck near Capri's 'Blue Grotto' [12/02/2023]
• Retreating ice patches provide evidence of ancient obsidian mining (Global Warming) [11/18/2023]
• A surge in obsidian exploitation more than 1.2 million years ago at Simbiro III (Melka Kunture, Upper Awash, Ethiopia) [01/20/2023]
• Study suggests Mayas utilized market-based economics [01/08/2023]
• Traces of permanent settlement dating back over 9,000 years discovered in central Turkiye [Anatolia] [09/04/2022]
• Study Challenges Views On What Drove Major Changes In Ancient Greek Society On Crete [08/28/2022]
• Ethiopian monuments 1,000 years older than previously thought [Sakaro Sodo] [12/12/2021]
• Hearth site in Utah desert reveals human tobacco use 12,300 years ago [10/11/2021]
• At underwater site, research team finds 9,000-year-old stone artifacts [06/15/2021]
• At the Bottom of Lake Huron, an Ancient Mystery Materializes [06/06/2021]
• Sicilian amber in western Europe pre-dates arrival of Baltic amber by at least 2,000 years [09/02/2018]
• Catalhoyuk Mural: The Earliest Representation of a Volcanic Eruption? [Hasan Dag] [08/22/2018]
• Mass Grave Found in California Reveals Prehistoric Violence Against 'Outsiders' [10/02/2015]
• Bronze Age Greek city found underwater [08/31/2015]
• Phallic Obsidian Cache Intrigues Archaeologists [11/28/2013]
• Mass Grave of 'Prodigal Sons' in California Poses Prehistoric Mystery [10/19/2013]
• New 10 second sourcing technology set to transform archaeology [09/15/2013]
• Ancient Mariners: Did Neanderthals Sail to Mediterranean? [11/24/2012]
• Seafaring in the Aegean: new dates [03/02/2012]
• 9500 year old obsidian bracelet shows exceptional craft skills [12/29/2011]
• South Park Creators Approached Obsidian Directly for Game [12/07/2011]
• Did Uruk soldiers kill their own people? 5,500 year old fratricide at Hamoukar Syria [09/24/2010]
• Obsidian used as ancient scalpel found in Turkey's Samsun [08/10/2010]
• Dig looks at society just before dawn of of urban civilization in the Middle East (Iraq) [04/06/2010]
• Ancient city looks like first victim of urban war 6,000-YEAR-OLD TOWN SUCCUMBED TO FIRE,MISSILES [02/17/2007]
• New Details of First Major Urban Battle Emerge [01/17/2007]
• Ancient Weapons Found In Ruins In Syria [01/16/2007]
• Ruins in Northern Syria Bear the Scars of a City's Final Battle [01/16/2007]
• Artifacts found at ancient city ("This was 'Shock and Awe' in the Fourth Millennium BC.") [12/21/2005]
• Ancient Citadel Shows Scars Of Mass Warfare (Mesopotamia - 3500BC) [12/16/2005]
• Archaeologists Unearth a War Zone 5,500 Years Old [12/16/2005]
• Sacrificial Burial Deepens Mystery At Teotihuacan, But Confirms The City's Militarism (More) [12/03/2004]
• Franchthi Excavations: 17,000 Years of Greek Prehistory [08/22/2004]
• Myth of the Hunter-Gatherer [08/13/2004]
• New Discoveries In Syria Confirm Theory On Spread Of Early Civilization [06/03/2002]

[SunkenCiv]

I would have used the map from the article, but this source won't let the code display it, no idea what's going on, I loaded it fine by itself in a test tab. I'd probably use the site much more if it weren't for that.

[SunkenCiv]

map

https://cdn.labrujulaverde.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1-s2.0-S2352409X25000793-gr1_lrg-1.jpg

[Red Badger]

[Carry_Okie]

No dimensions.
Bizarre.
I’m for signaling and scaring off predators.

[Fai Mao]

Women have been wearing makeup a loooooong time.

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve seen a pic of a 7000 year old obsidian hand mirror that probably came from the same general area but was excavated I forget where in the Near East. It would work welll and look at home in a modern bathroom. It had some signs of wear, could use a polishing. :^) It was probably in a 1960s survey book by the late James Mellaart, despite that, probably not a fake. ;^)

[SunkenCiv]

That’ll l’arn ‘em!

[waterhill]

Seen an obsidian point once,right next to a Clovis. Kinda wild.

[waterhill]

I’m being a joker of course. That stuff is amazing.

[waterhill]

There is a shale deposit here in East Texas and one can find points all around the lake. Still gets me excited. But obsidian gets you all worked up. People have been killed over Clovis.

[waterhill]

You can also butcher a bison and still slice a tomato!

[waterhill]

Old story about a couple of dudes that found a Clovis back in the 20s. One of them shot the other one over it. Killed him dead. I like finding points but I draw the line at shooting someone.

[Pocketdoor]

Clovis is the smaller city next to Free Republic Fresno.

[SMARTY]

Signaling was my first guess

[SMARTY]

Slightly off topic:

When asked the difference between a buffalo and a bison, the Cokney man said...

“Well, you can was your hands in a bison” 😁

[Adder]

likely through exchange networks.

Fancy name for a peddler...”MA! The obsidian guy is here!”

[DannyTN]

Obsidian mirrors are on Amazon as low as $6.
There doesn’t seem to be pictures of people seeing their reflection in them.

[Beowulf9]

Middle of the night, can’t sleep. Get up, glass of wine to help sleep and a peanut butter sandwich and go on to read FR. “Trump has blown up the world order - and left Europe’s leaders scrabbling” Nah, sick of politics.

“Liberal Networks, Cable Channels Refuse to Condemn Crockett Wanting to ‘Punch’ Ted Cruz” What else ya got?...

“US expands oil, gas leasing and eases Alaska energy restrictions” God, no. I am not surprised in the least. Boring. Give me a break!

Hmm. “The Place Where the Rare Obsidian Mirrors of the Neolithic in Anatolia and the Near East Were Manufactured Has Been Found” Ooooh! Yeah! Where’d they make them Obsidian Mirrors, anyway?

Ahhhh, Fascinating!

Thank you, Sunken Civ!

[Waverunner]

Al Goes original internet routers, used light without fiber optics, very advanced technology. Ask any dimocrat.