Motif Co-occurrence Networks in the Taş Tepeler Region: Mapping Potential Social Alliances and Predictive Implications

The Taş Tepeler sites exhibit diverse iconography, from animal-dominated at Göbekli Tepe to anthropomorphic at Karahan Tepe. This study aggregates published motif inventories across enclosures, constructing co-occurrence networks (nodes: motifs; edges: shared pillars/enclosures) to model potential inter-group alliances or ritual specializations.Graph theory metrics reveal non-random structure: high modularity (clusters e.g., fox-boar vs. vulture-head), centrality shifts (fox hubs at Göbekli → human at Karahan/Sayburç), and transitional triads at Sayburç (human + leopards bridging animal-human networks). We propose shared motifs represent sodalities (non-kinship alliances), with decreasing modularity over time signaling clan merger into unified political identity and stratification.Predictive modeling forecasts Sefertepe (intermediate geography, partial surveys): ~72% probability human/vulture associations, ~12% fox/boar. This computational approach offers testable hypotheses for future excavations, bridging quantitative iconography with social network theory.