MA Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology

Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology discipline studies the civilizations spread to the Near East and surrounding regions (Mesopotamia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Mainland Greece and Aegean Islands, Cyprus, Balkans, Caucasia and Egypt) with a special focus on Anatolia starting from the Neolithic period (ca. 10,000 BC), which marks the domestication of plants and the transition to the settled societies, followed by Chalcolithic Period (5,000-3,000 BC), Bronze Ages (3,000-1,200 BC) and Iron Age (1,000-500 BC). Most important turning points in human history, such as the appearance of first settled societies and the beginning of the historical ages with the invention of writing are included in the time interval studied by the program. All aforementioned Near Eastern, especially Anatolian cultures are being studied in a comparative manner in the light of materials from excavations, supported by cuneiform texts.