Archaeologists studying Neolithic arrowheads with geometric marks from central Anatolia have found that the rare engravings were deliberately made, but their purpose remains unknown.
A study led by Alice Vinet examined 12 marked obsidian arrowheads from Tepecik-Çiftlik in Turkey. Researchers found no evidence that the markings formed a writing system or a standard set of symbols.
The arrowheads come from Tepecik-Çiftlik, a Neolithic settlement in Niğde Province, Cappadocia. The site lies near major obsidian sources at Göllüdağ and Nenezi Dağ.
Researchers have documented 740 arrowheads at the site. Only 12 carry incised marks. Most date from about 6800 to 6100 B.C., while one comes from a layer dated to about 7100 to 7000 B.C.
Marks range from crosses to squares
The engravings vary from one arrowhead to another. They include crosses, V-shapes, chevrons, rectangles, wavy lines, and square-like patterns. One arrowhead carries three repeated squares and required 20 individual cuts. Another has two V-shaped patterns. A third contains two wavy lines that meet near the tip.
Researchers found no exact repetition among the 12 designs. The markings also do not match known images on pottery, stamp seals or other decorated objects from the settlement.
None clearly represents a person, animal, plant or other recognizable subject. Microscopic analysis showed that most were intentional. Some lines were cut two or three times.
Experiments also offered clues about how the marks were made. Researchers successfully cut obsidian with flint. Attempts to make similar marks with another piece of obsidian failed, suggesting a harder material was needed.
Obsidian played a major role in prehistoric Anatolia. Evidence of its long-distance movement has also been found elsewhere in the region. Researchers recently identified obsidian from the Greek island of Melos at an ancient settlement in southwestern Turkey, although that material belongs to a different archaeological context.
Marks were added at different stages
Researchers found no consistent point in the manufacturing process when the engravings were made. On three arrowheads, later retouching cut through parts of the markings. This indicates the engravings came first.
Twelve Neolithic obsidian arrowheads found in Anatolia bear mysterious geometric marks, including crosses, squares, chevrons and wavy lines. The markings were deliberately made, but more than 7,000 years later, their purpose remains unknown. pic.twitter.com/HCPo54Q0HM
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) August 24, 2026
On three others, the lines crossed retouched surfaces, meaning they were added later. Researchers could not determine the sequence for the remaining six.
Apart from their markings, the arrowheads were similar to other examples from Tepecik-Çiftlik. They came from the same obsidian sources and were made using similar techniques. The quality or shape of an arrowhead also had no clear connection to the complexity of its design. The findings suggest the markings were not limited to unusually valuable or carefully made weapons.
Hunting marks remain one possibility
Researchers have long considered whether the incisions identified individual hunters. Earlier work at Can Hasan III suggested that hunters could have marked projectiles to show ownership. The new study found no firm evidence for that explanation, but researchers said it remains possible.
Only one of the 12 arrowheads shows a fracture clearly associated with projectile impact. However, researchers cautioned that arrows do not always develop recognizable damage when used. Evidence from other central Anatolian sites also indicates that some incised points were used as projectiles.
Marked arrowheads have also been found at Çatalhöyük, one of Anatolia’s best-known Neolithic settlements. Archaeological discoveries there have provided extensive evidence about everyday life, including 8,600-year-old bread-like remains found near an oven.
Rare tradition lasted more than 1,000 years
Archaeologists have recorded 54 incised arrowheads across central Anatolia. They have been found at Can Hasan III, Çatalhöyük, Sırçalıtepe, Kömürcü-Kaletepe and several other sites. The practice remained rare even at settlements where marked examples occurred. Incised arrowheads account for about 1.6% of the 740 arrowheads documented at Tepecik-Çiftlik.
Their geographical restriction is also significant. Cappadocian obsidian circulated far beyond central Anatolia, but similar incised arrowheads have not been identified in neighboring regions.
The evidence indicates the practice continued for more than 1,000 years but never became widespread. Other research has documented broader contacts between prehistoric communities in the region, including evidence that Neolithic communities in Anatolia and Greece maintained cultural connections.
Researchers said the arrowhead markings could have identified hunters, carried symbolic meaning, or served another purpose. The available evidence does not favor one explanation. Further discoveries may help determine why Neolithic communities marked a small number of their arrowheads and why the practice remained largely confined to central Anatolia.
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