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Excavations at Kavus, an Hoyuk (southeastern Turkey) have revealed evidence of the use of turtles, tortoises and terrapins in post-Assyrian funerary practices. Of particular significance are the remains of the Euphrates soft-shelled turtle (Rafetus euphraticus), distinguished from other species of turtle by their quantity and treatment in the burial pit under investigation here. The unique finds from Kavus, an Hoyuk, coupled with archaeological and textual records, underline the economic and symbolic significance of these animals for communities in prehistoric and early historical Mesopotamia.

The skeleton of an adult male, dating to the Early Iron Age of the Assyrian Period (B.C. 8th-7th cc), recovered in South Eastern Turkey was analyzed. It reveals significant biological and cultural deformations. This so-called Zeviya Tivilki individual represents the first known record of circular-type double bandage artificial cranial deformation from the Iron Age in Anatolia. The presence of cranial pathology temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) on the left side of the mandible, most probably caused by a trauma, was identified and negatively affected dental function and health. In particular, the occlusal surface of the left upper teeth covered by dental plaque indicates that the individual was not able to use this side of his jaw. Signs of the postcranial pathology diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) reveal that the individual's physical behaviors were effected (limited). Deformations due to physical and physiological stresses on the postcranial and cranial parts indicate the individual severely suffered during his lifetime.

Supraorbital foramen (SOF) and hypoglossal canal bridging (HGCB) show variation in their morphology and frequency in different populations. It is established that the frequency distribution of these traits are efficient to distinguish major human populations. In this study, the prevalence of SOF and HGCB in 11 Anatolian populations from distinct time periods and locations was examined. Frequency differences of SOF and HGCB were evaluated for different age and sex groups. Following Dodo and Sawada (2010) for SOF and HGCB population correlations, this study is the first to present the place of Anatolian populations among world populations. Although significant differences in major human populations were observed by previous studies, there were no significant differences found amongst the Anatolian populations (Today Turkey) in relation to SOF. Similarly, supraorbital edge over the number of holes in size and position showed no significant difference. Though there was an age-related increase in frequency, evaluated data demonstrated no statistical difference between distinct age and sex groups in relation to SOF. The results of evaluation of SOF frequency within HGCB Anatolian people seem to cluster together most similarly with Europeans, in concordance with recent molecular genetic studies, among the 72 world populations. At the end, this study concludes that the frequency distribution of SOF and HGCB is an effective tool to distinguish genetically distant major human populations in large scale, but it is ineffective in comparing chronologically, geographically, and genetically proximate local populations. It is seen that this results are valid for ancient and modern populations.

Using the biography of Ebubekir Ratib Efendi, this article aims to scrutinize the typical 18th century "Ottoman" in the service of the Sublime Porte. The military defeats taken in the Balkans and Black Sea had a great impact in the formation of a new Ottoman bureaucrat in the late 18th century. The new "Ottoman" was indeed a product of changing needs and structure of the Ottoman state. Increasing need for experienced diplomats is one of the basic reasons brought the evolution of an ideal "Ottoman", from military-administrator "pasha" to scribal "efendi". The bureaucratic career of Ebubekir Ratib Efendi exemplifies the said evolution and the very domination of the Sublime Porte over the other Ottoman state institutions. Ratib Efendi, who was educated in Amedi Office, which became a busier place with the increasing prominence of diplomacy in international relations. Therefore it was no surprise that he was chosen represent the Ottoman Empire as an envoy in the court of the Habsburgs. His observations in Vienna, which were described in detail in his treatise and travelogue, opened new horizons for the Ottoman bureaucracy of the New Order. The accuracy of Ratib Efendi's descriptions of the European state and army organizations in his treatise prove that new type of "Ottoman" was emerging as well as his talents as a statesman. Ebubekir Ratib Efendi, who had a solid background on the political theories of Islam, well understood the contemporary European concepts. Ratib Efendi was instrumental not only in designing the theoretical background of the New Order policies but also the application of this theory. His impact on the codification of the regulation for viziers, his role in the foundation of the Grain Administration (Zahire Nezareti) and his service as a reisulkuttab clearly underline his practical contributions to the reorganization of the Ottoman Empire. However, Ratib Efendi, who was living in an age when factional rivalries and conflicts between political households, could not save himself from being the target of factional frictions and intrigues, which were also typical of his age.

This study is based on the paleaopathology of leprosy on human skeletal remains and the detection of ancient Mycobacterium leprae DNA. Two cases of childhood leprosy were recognized. The first case was in a Roman necropolis at Martellona (Rome, Central Italy), dated to the 2nd to 3rd centuries ce. The skeleton of a child aged 4-5years, from tomb 162, is the youngest individual in Italy from this time period, with the clear rhino-maxillary syndrome and other bony changes indicative of leprosy. The second case from a burial at Kovuklukaya, in the Sinop region of Northern Turkey, was from the 8th to the 10th centuries, during the Byzantine era. The endocranium of a 4-5-month-old infant with new bone formationan indication of chronic inflammationwas positive for M. leprae DNA. Infant and childhood leprosy is uncommon today, and there is a scarcity of information in the osteoarchaeological literature of leprosy in the past, especially in children. The significance of these cases is that it adds to an understanding of the history of the disease in the former Roman Empire. It is hoped that over time sufficient data can be obtained to understand the epidemiological dynamics and clinical evolution of leprosy from the ancient period until today. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Speleothem samples such as flowstone, stalagmite and stalactites are one of the important finds at Catalhoyuk, which they have been carried hundreds of kilometers from its source. The "Catalhoyuk Speleothem Project" have been initiated with the aim of investigating Catalhoyuk's speleothems and identifying their provenance. In order to achieve this, speleothem samples at Catalhoyuk have been recognized and documented, and caves around Catalhoyuk have been investigated. Later, both selected Catalhoyuk speleothem and cave samples of flowstone, stalagmite and stalactites have been analysed by ICP-MS to recognize similar trace elements. In addition, the ages of samples have been obtained by U-Th method to find similarities between the Catalhoyuk samples and speleothem deposits from surrounding caves. The comparative results have been used to identify the sources of Catalhoyuk's speleothems.