17 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Türkiye’s Neolithic Settlement Çayönü Hill Discovered New Tombs from Early Bronze Age

Archaeologists have unearthed 5 more tombs dating to the Early Bronze Age during the recent excavations on Çayönü Hill in the Ergani district, southeast of Diyarbakır. With these new discoveries, the total number of graves in the area has risen to 10.

Bearing the first traces of the Neolithic Age, when agricultural activities and the transition from nomadism to settled life started, is of great importance not only for the region’s history but also for the history of world civilization, as it is dated about 10,000 years ago.

Archaeological excavations started in 1964 but were interrupted in 1991 for security reasons and restarted eight years ago.

Professor Aslı Erim Özdoğan, who leads the excavation efforts from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University’s Department of Archaeology, emphasized the historical importance of the site, stating: “The Hilar Caves, an archaeological site of the highest degree located in the rural Sesverenpınar District, and Çayönü Hill, situated just 500 meters (1,640 feet) to the north, are recognized as pivotal points in the history of civilization. Since the commencement of excavations in 1964, remains and artifacts ranging from 7500 B.C. to 5500 B.C. have been uncovered, offering a glimpse into life during that era.”

The excavations have revealed that the region was a cradle for early agricultural activities, including the cultivation of crops such as wheat, chickpeas, and lentils. The domestication of animals such as sheep and goats, as well as the transition from hunting to settled life, are also evident in the findings. The ongoing work at Çayönü Hill has provided significant evidence of the beginnings of agricultural practices and the Neolithic period.

A female skeleton is seen on Çayönü Hill in Ergani, Diyarbakır. Photo: DHA
A female skeleton is seen on Çayönü Hill in Ergani, Diyarbakır. Photo: DHA

This year’s excavations have yielded a particularly significant discovery: five graves. The burials, characterized by skeletons in fetal positions, are identified as belonging to the early Bronze Age.

“The focal point of our work is to establish clearer links between the non-pottery Neolithic period and the pottery Neolithic period,” explained Özdoğan. “Our exploration of the Early Bronze Age, spanning from 3000 B.C. to 2950 B.C., aims to shed light on this transitional phase.”

The investigation also aimed to ascertain the extent of the cemetery area and its expansion over time. “We have discovered a total of 10 graves this year, building upon the findings from the previous year,” Özdoğan stated. “One of the notable discoveries is a complete female skeleton, raising questions about the gender composition of the burials. This insight will be further refined as more excavations are conducted and gender analyses are carried out.”

The archaeological endeavors have not only revealed graves but also unveiled structures that provide a deeper understanding of the area’s history. “In the pre-pottery Neolithic period, we uncovered the remains of buildings, which was a significant development. Our research has also clarified the relationship between the sediment-filled stream that once flowed across the plain and the layer that now covers it,” Özdoğan explained, underscoring the project’s multidimensional nature.

Cover Photo: DHA

Related Articles

The mythical hero of Troy and Rome Aeneas’s peerless mosaic discovered in Türkiye

11 May 2023

11 May 2023

A large mosaic depicting the legendary Trojan hero Aeneas, the protagonist of Virgil’s epic poem “The Aeneid” and the ancestor...

Metal Scraps were Used İnstead of Money in Bronze Age Europe

8 May 2021

8 May 2021

Bronze scrap uncovered in hoards in Europe was used as currency, according to researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and...

Ancient Latin texts written on papyrus reveal new information about the Roman world

11 January 2023

11 January 2023

Researchers funded by the European Union have deciphered ancient Latin texts written on papyrus. This work could reveal a lot...

Four-face ivory dice found at Keezhadi excavation site in India

18 February 2022

18 February 2022

The Tamil Nadu Archaeological department along with the Archaeological Survey of India has unearthed rectangular ivory dice,  in the excavation...

An important discovery in Haltern: Mini temples and sacrificial pit discovered in Roman military encampment

16 November 2023

16 November 2023

Archaeologists from the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL) have found remains of the foundations of two mini Roman temples and a...

The 3,200-year-old perfume of Tapputi, the first female chemist in history, came to life again

24 July 2022

24 July 2022

One of the scent formulas written in Akkadian on clay tablets by Tapputi, known as the world’s first female perfumer...

An Urartian fortress was discovered at an altitude of 3,300 meters in eastern Turkey

2 July 2022

2 July 2022

In the Gürpınar district of Van, located in eastern Turkey, a fortress ruin, which is considered to be used by...

Earliest Known East Anglian Gold Coin Found: A Fusion of Pagan and Christian Imagery

12 June 2025

12 June 2025

A rare gold coin dating back to the early Anglo-Saxon period has been discovered near Norwich, UK, by a metal...

1st Century BCE Medusa Mask Mold Discovered in Ancient Finziade, Sicily

24 January 2025

24 January 2025

At the Finziade archaeological site in the Sicilian town of Licata, archaeologists have discovered a mask mold that could represent...

New Discoveries at Ancient Greek City of Paestum’s ‘Little Doric Temple’ in Italy

16 April 2023

16 April 2023

Archaeologists have made a series of extraordinary discoveries that may fundamentally alter the understanding of the past of the ancient...

New fortification walls discovered in the ancient city of Pergamon

14 February 2022

14 February 2022

2,500-year-old fortification walls were found in the Ancient City of Pergamon (Bergama), which was included in the World Heritage List...

1,300-year-old shipwreck found in southwest France

19 June 2022

19 June 2022

Archeologists in France have discovered the wreck of a ship that navigated the Garonne river in southwestern France in the...

Scientists reconstruct Late Bronze and Iron Age Mediterranean silver trade

11 July 2021

11 July 2021

Scientists have recreated the Eastern Mediterranean silver trade across a time span that includes the conventional dates of the Trojan...

Who really fought in the Battle of Himera? Researchers found the answer to the question

14 May 2021

14 May 2021

According to the Ancient Greek Historians, victory over the Carthaginians in the Battle of Himera was won by the alliance...

Archaeologists in Derbyshire have unearthed a 9th century Anglo Saxon house

15 July 2021

15 July 2021

A nearly complete Anglo-Saxon house, considered to date from the early ninth century and might have been the abode of...