FETHIYE PRIOR TO TURKS

Fethiye in Pre-Historic Period

As is true for the whole of anatolia. Fethiye went through o long "stone oge" period for thousands of years. During the Paleolithic period, people mode use of stones and bones to create their tools and weapons, and the-ir subsistence depended on hunting.

The Mesozoic period is in a way a continuation of the Paleolithic perid. During the subsequent Neolithic period, with the cultural development of humanity' and the ability to control fire, the development of cooking techniques and the manufacture of ceramics, (he inauguration of agriculture and non-nomadic settlement are all witnessed at Burdur and Hacilar bordering Fethiye, while similar cultural phases ore evident in and around Fethiye as well. Pursuant to (he Neolithic period and during the Chalcolithic period, together with new tools of stone, a limited amount of metal was also used. Pieces of crokery from this period have been unearthed at Karain, çarkini and Beldibi Caves at Pamphilia Attemps have been mode by some scientists to reconcile local names from the old Bronze Age (3000-2000 B.C.) with the Luwits  Some significant discoveries were made in the vicinity of Fethiye doting to the second half of the Bronze Age(2500-2000 B.C.). Excavations carried out by M.J. Mellink at Karatas-Semayük, about 4 miles to the west of Antalya-Elmaly, revealed a great deal of material enlightening the Lycian archaeology of pre-historic period. Karatos is a small tumulus, )60 ft. long and 10-12 ft. high. The buried earthenware belonging to the Kingdom reflects the Oriental culture. Regarding the mid-Bronze Age (2000-1500 B.C.), we do not as yet have definite evidence, and scientists are in conflict about the origin of the population living in and around Fethiye during this period.

As regards the neo-Bronze Age (1500-1200 B.C.), it is suggested that the lukkas lived in this region and that Fethiye was located within the western boundary of the lukka tribe.