Phrygians east of the red river: Phrygianisation, migration and desertion

The purpose of this paper is to suggest mechanisms pertaining to the foundation of a new city on the Kerkenes Dağ, in the highlands of central Anatolia in the mid-first millennium BC. Archaeological evidence that Kerkenes was a new foundation is discussed, after which its thoroughly Phrygian culture...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anatolian studies 2018, Vol.68, p.99-118
Main Author: Summers, Geoffrey D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
Archaeology
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Migration
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Summary:The purpose of this paper is to suggest mechanisms pertaining to the foundation of a new city on the Kerkenes Dağ, in the highlands of central Anatolia in the mid-first millennium BC. Archaeological evidence that Kerkenes was a new foundation is discussed, after which its thoroughly Phrygian culture is outlined. The core of the paper discusses possible explanations for the unexpected appearance of this new capital. Possibilities include Phrygianisation or acculturation, centralisation of pre-existing Phrygian settlements east of the Kızılırmak, eastward expansion of the Kingdom of Phrygia and a large migration from central or western Phrygia. It is proposed that a single large migration provides the most plausible explanation for the founding of the city, for the display of its Phrygian-ness and perhaps also for its ultimate failure.
ISSN:0066-1546
2048-0849
DOI:10.1017/S0066154618000042