ANATOLIAN RING-IDOLS: A TYPOLOGICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

A distinctive type of pendant referred as “ring idol” or “ring-shaped idol”, known from a wide geographical area in different periods, provokes a series of questions. Beside their functions and symbolic meanings, the typological and chronological development of this type has been extensively discussed. Anatolian idols of this type, particularly İkiztepe examples form one of the main axes of the ongoing debate with regard to Anatolian-Balkan relations and many scholars claimed that they should be dated to the 4. Millennium B.C. In this study the Anatolian examples are examined as a whole from a typological and chronological point of view. The wide range and variety of Anatolian examples clearly demonstrates that among Aegean and Balkan influenced forms, an Anatolian development scheme has been also existed and lasted until the end of the 3. Millennium B.C., which in fact shows that not the whole inventory of Anatolian examples should be dated to the 4. Millennium B.C.