The data obtained during the excavations in Kültepe Kaniş/Karum Mound, where the first written tablets of Anatolia are found, and the plant pollens obtained during the drilling works in the region, revealed that viticulture was practiced in Kayseri 5,000 years ago.
The excavations in Kültepe were carried out by Ankara University Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Department of Archeology Lecturer Prof. Dr. It continues under the chairmanship of Fikri Kulakoğlu.
The data obtained during the excavations and the plant pollens reached by the sounding made in the region revealed that the Gesi District, which is famous for its vineyards, is located in the city, which is famous for its “vineyard settlements” (its gave its name to the “Gesi Bağları” folk song.) that viticulture dates back to 5 thousand years ago.
Kültepe Excavation Head Prof. Dr. Fikri Kulakoğlu told AA that they started working in the middle of June and that they would be on the field as soon as the weather conditions allow.
He said that in addition to universities in Turkey, scientists from countries such as Japan, Austria, Brazil and South Korea participated in the excavations. He also stated that they examined the climate and flora of the region.
In the cuneiform tablets unearthed during the excavations, the plants grown around Kültepe are also described. Kulakoğlu said, “Because these are matters that make money, they are registered because they make money. There are prices for gardens on the tablets, the one at the top of the water is more expensive, the one with the water in it is sold at a higher price. They are priced according to their location.”
In a plate belonging to the Hellenistic period, it is stated that the region was mentioned as the vineyard of the people living here.
Kulakoğlu said: “Kayseri appears to be a larger city from the written documents. There is a court decision regarding the renting of a vineyard and non-payment for it, these data are related to the Hellenistic period. These are seen in written documents. We also come across some data during archaeological excavations. In particular, various plant remains on a microscopic scale, seeds and charred pieces. From these, it is possible to determine what grows in this region.”
prof. Dr. Kulakoğlu stated that the data belonging to the oldest viticulture culture found in Anatolia were reached in the soundings related to the samples collected during the excavations and the ancient geography researches carried out especially in the Engir swamp, Tuzla Lake and Sultan Marshes near the excavation site for the last 5 years.
Associate Professor from Isparta Süleyman Demirel University. Dr. In Çetin Şenkul’s studies, viticulture and horticulture were dated to approximately 1500 years earlier than the pollen found around Beyşehir Lake.
Kulakoğlu said, “We have seen in the studies we have done here that there was viticulture in Kayseri 5 thousand years ago. When we talk about viticulture, it is not naturally grown trees. People consciously plant trees on their own plots and vaccinate when necessary. In Kayseri, it is actually a 5,000-year-old tradition that everyone has a vineyard and that folk songs are written on vineyards.”
In response to the claims that the seeds found in Kültepe have been replanted and harvested in recent days, Kulakoğlu said, “It is not possible to sprout 3-5 thousand years old seeds in any way. There is no such thing. You can’t make it grow, there is no such thing. We can understand the flora and vegetation of the region at that time from those charred seeds. We can understand the climatic conditions at that time. It is important to us.” used the phrase.