Olive Oil Production in Rough Cilicia: Production Installations– Settlement Pattern – Dating Ümit AYDINOĞLU Abstract Rough Cilicia is bordered with Kalykadnos (Göksu) and Lamos (Limonlu) rivers, thus covering the townships of Silifke and Erdemli of Mersin province in Turkey. The fact that a considerable number of agricultural production facilities have been identified in Rough Cilicia indicates the presence of a regional production orga- nization. Research in Rough Cilicia has brought to light that olive oil and wine production had a significant place in the region’s economy and the presence of an organization for this production. Identification of buildings spared for olive oil production suggests that there was a separate and different organization than that for wine production. These buildings contain mortar-shaped crushing basins and round-shaped crushing stones, which used to rotate in these basins, lever and screw presses, press beds as well as collecting barrels and tanks, either portable or cut into the bedrock. It is known that lever and screw presses with perforated press piers at the fulcrum were used for olive oil production. These were located within buildings and constitute the main criteria for identifying the buildings as olive oil workshops. Buildings identified as workshops where olive oil was produced in the region point to a regional settlement pattern and production organization due to their common features. The workshops are located at points near the ancient cities on the coastline and particularly on the roads leading to settlements up the moun- tains. Sites of workshops also vary. In ancient settlements in mountainous terrain, the workshops are found within the settlements, which contain usually more than one workshop. Some buildings identified as olive oil workshops stand independent of settlements. Difficulties prevail in precise dating of the olive oil workshops and production facilities identified in Rough Cilicia. Rough terrain of the region has limited the areas suitable for cultivation, and thus, available areas have been contin- uously used through the ages. Therefore, it is not likely to reach evidence of small finds. Archaeological materials found in and around these workshops help date the last use of the site, not the production installations themselves. Yet, it is necessary to evaluate the finds within the history of the region in order to be able to date the production installations. In addition, typological comparisons of the production installations with examples in other regions will support the dates proposed. Key Words: Rough Cilicia, Olive Oil, Press, Settlement Pattern Olive Oil and Wine Production in Anatolian During the Antiquity, International Symposium Mersin-Turkey, 06-08 November 2008 1-18