Which prehistoric periods came before the Bronze Age in Anatolia?

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In Anatolia, the prehistoric periods that preceded the Bronze Age were the Paleolithic, the Neolithic, and the Chalcolithic periods.1

  • Paleolithic Period: Evidence of human occupation exists from at least the Upper Paleolithic, with earlier Lower Paleolithic remains found in sites such as Yarımburgaz Cave.1
  • Neolithic Period: Beginning around 7300 BCE, this era marked the establishment of farming and stock breeding, lasting until approximately 6250 BCE.1
  • Chalcolithic Period: This period followed the Neolithic and lasted until the middle of the 4th millennium BCE. It was characterized by the gradual introduction of metal tools alongside stone implements and the development of painted pottery.12

The Chalcolithic Period directly anticipated the subsequent Early and Middle Bronze Ages, which were defined by more advanced metallurgy.12