Observations on the Spiral-Patterned Seal from the Büyük Deller Settlement

English (OpenAlex)

Seals represent a multifaceted artefact with a long-standing presence throughout history, extending from prehistoric times to the present era. These artefacts are fabricated from a variety of materials and feature a range of motifs, each with its own shifting meanings and functions. The present study focuses on seals from various periods and regions across a broad geographical area, from inland Anatolia eastward to northern Iraq and westward to southeastern Europe in the west, analysing them in terms of their motif characteristics. The analysis focuses on a stamp seal bearing a spiral motif, which is dated to the Middle Chalcolithic period and was discovered at the Büyük Deller site in Aksaray. This example is employed to evaluate Neolithic and Chalcolithic stamp seals from Volcanic Cappadocia, with a particular focus on the continuity and transformation observed in their motifs. Despite the fact that the Büyük Deller seal was unearthed in an undefined stratigraphic context, its motif and typological features permit its inclusion in regional patterns. The discussion incorporates comparative examples from Tepecik-Çiftlik, Köşk Höyük and Güvercinkayası, with the aim of providing a preliminary assessment of motifs shared across different yet interconnected periods within the same region. The region's strategic importance within prehistoric exchange networks can be attributed to its abundant supply of obsidian. This study also explores the possible role of this characteristic in disseminating seal motifs.