Öz This papcr cxamincs thc status of Anatolia bcfore the period of tlıc Assyrian trade colonies in the light of new cxcavations and dis- coveries. Kurt Bittel published thc first general survey of thc deve- lopment of local early Anatolian culturcs in 1945 In an article dealing with thc relations bctvvcen thc Royal Tombs at Alacahö- yük, the focus of Central Anatolian Early Bronzc Age culturc, and thc Aegean, Machtcld Mellink also raised somc of the basic problems of Anatolian archacology1 2. A. Goctze and J. Mellaart studied and discussed the gcographical distribution of the various Anatolian cultures of thc period c. 4000-2300-2000 B. C.3 I have been working on some of the relevant problems since 1948 4. Agreement has been rcachcd on many important problems, but there also are poinls of difference. The differences do not affcct thc fatlual and deseriptive side of thc cvidence; they are purcly a matter of interpretation.