Living in the Lower Town: a study of a Middle Iron Age room at Niğde-Kınık Höyük

The archaeological site of Niğde-Kınık Höyük, situated in the strategic Bor Plain of southern Cappadocia, represents a crucial nexus for understanding the long-term connectivity between Central Anatolia, the Levant, and the Mediterranean. This study investigates the socio-economic and cultural landscape of the Middle Iron Age, focusing on the systematic investigation of Operation D in the Lower Town. Central to the research is the analysis of Room Dr7 (Phase 5, KH-P IV), a specialized structure characterized by stone and mudbrick architecture. Through a multi-disciplinary methodology combining stratigraphic, typological, and functional analyses of 139 artifacts—including ceramics, tools, and personal ornaments—the study reconstructs the spatial organization and daily life of the settlement. The results of the ceramic fabric analysis reveal a clear distinction between local production and regional contributions from the Niğde area, highlighting the site's integration into broader production networks. Functionally, the diversity of the assemblage, which includes utilitarian kitchenware alongside finely crafted miniaturistic vessels, suggests that Room Dr7 served primarily as a storage area for a social group of intermediate status. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of vessel forms and decorative motifs demonstrates a significant cultural synthesis: the material culture of Kınık Höyük recontextualizes broader Central Anatolian traditions and southern Cilician influences, such as the adaptation of Mediterranean concentric circles onto local Anatolian forms. By integrating archaeological data with the critical assessment of historical sources, this research provides new insights into the dynamic interactions and stylistic continuities that defined Central Anatolia during the Iron Age, offering a preliminary yet significant contribution to the broader reconstruction of this historically pivotal region.