Ancient Turkish obsidian arrowheads bear deliberate markings that still puzzle researchers

Researchers working at the Neolithic settlement of Tepecik-Ciftlik in Cappadocia have documented eleven newly recognized obsidian arrowheads bearing purposeful incisions, bringing the site's count to twelve and the broader Central Anatolian total to 54. Detailed microscopic inspection established three criteria—visibility, material removal, and repeated strokes—to verify that the lines, crosses, chevrons, wavy marks and occasional letter-like shapes were deliberately carved.

Experimental replication demonstrated that only a flint edge, a material comprising less than one percent of the site's toolkit, could produce the precise cuts, underscoring intentionality. The timing of the markings relative to tool shaping varies, and most points show no evidence of having been used as projectiles, leaving functional interpretations open. Comparable incised arrowheads have surfaced at Çatalhöyük, Can Hasan III, Kömürcü-Kaletepe and other sites, yet the practice did not travel with Anatolian obsidian beyond the region. While earlier hypotheses, such as those by archaeologist Kathryn Ataman, propose the marks served as hunters' signatures, the authors of the PLOS One study conclude that decoration, ownership tags, or ritual/magical purposes remain plausible explanations.