More than 50 structures from Neolithic period uncovered in southeastern Türkiye
ANLIURFA, 4 September (BelTA — Anadolu) — More than 50 structures from
the Neolithic period have been uncovered in excavations in southeastern
Türkiye being carried out within the scope of the Turkish Culture and
Tourism Ministry’s Stone Hills Project.
The Sayburc excavations
in Sanliurfa, which began in 2021 under the leadership of archaeologist
Eylem Ozdogan of Istanbul University, are continuing with the aim of
revealing a settlement that reflects the Gobeklitepe culture.
The
excavations have unearthed structures with T-shaped standing stones,
including hearths, platforms, benches and workshop areas.
More
than 50 structures have been identified so far, the majority of which
are residential, with a small number of public structures.
«In
Sayburc, we observed both public structures and residential buildings
side by side. This provides detailed information about both daily life
and the activities that took place in special buildings. The traces of
daily life in the residences indicate that domestic activities related
to nutrition were carried out within the houses. In the special
buildings, however, the number and arrangement of T-shaped standing
stones and benches are different,» Ozdogan told Anadolu.
She said that excavations are still underway in both residential and special structures.
«Usually,
residential buildings are found around one or two special structures.
So far, five special buildings have been uncovered. The others are
likely residences. T-shaped standing stones appear in both residential
and public buildings. In residences, typically one stone is found, while
in special buildings, there are stones arranged along the walls, with
one or two stones placed in the center,» she added.
Ozdogan underlined that Sayburc is an important settlement documenting the transitional processes of the Neolithic period.
«Intense
settlement began in the region around 12,600 years ago during the
Neolithic period. Numerous settlements were established, some for long
periods and others temporarily. Among these, Karahantepe and Gobeklitepe
are the most significant. Many settlements reflect different phases of
the period. Sayburc is a site that was continuously occupied for nearly
300 years.
“Here, we can trace the transition from round-planned
structures to rectangular ones. This provides crucial data for
understanding the transformations in construction techniques and
technology,» she said.
