New data and perspectives on the early stages of the Neolithic in the Middle Kura River Valley (South Caucasus). The 2017–2019 excavations at Kiçik Tepe, Western Azerbaijan

The factors and dynamics that initiated the Neolithisation process in South Caucasus between very end of 7th beginning 6th millennium BCE are still unclear hotly debated. It is within this framework excavations at Kiçik Tepe, middle Kura river valley Western Azerbaijan, aim to offer new data perspectives on complex interplay environmental, social cultural contributed process. Excavations Tepe uncovered two main phases occupation consisting circular buildings dating first centuries millennium. Architectural remains allowed us highlight an evolutionary architectural trajectory hinting productive changes role structure households. subsistence strategies rely species domesticated elsewhere show once a series specificities highlighting adaptation local environment exploitation wild possibly resulting from previous Mesolithic practices. Simultaneously, while almost aceramic way life outlines dialectic Neolithic cooking practices, lithic macrolithic tools pinpoint broadly shared regional elements as well localised traits framed into both long short distance contacts. As whole evidence highlights was not straightforward consisted abrupt homogenous adoption exogenous ‘package’ but most probably gradual change resistance innovation old socio-economic models.