New archaeological finds in Karahantepe and Gobeklitepe near southeastern city of Sanliurfa reshape story of the civilisation's origins.
Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered 8,000-year-old petroglyphs in Kayseri's Develi district, predating the Hittite Empire. These engravings on volcanic rock depict human and animal figures, offering insights into the symbolic expression of early Anatolian communities.
The 11,000-year-old stone circles of Göbekli Tepe in modern Turkey may have been monuments to a vanishing way of life, representing a last-ditch effort by hunter-gatherers to maintain their traditions in the face of the Neolithic Revolution.
Ground-penetrating radar at Göbeklitepe, Turkey, has revealed additional circular enclosures, a large building, and potential early domestic structures, expanding our understanding of this 12,000-year-old site.
Researchers from the University of Cadiz have unearthed a dolmen over 5,000 years old in Teba (Málaga), a monumental structure with exceptional preservation, revealing prestige goods made of ivory, amber, flint, and marine shells.
Archaeologists in Spain have discovered a 5,000-year-old dolmen that is 43 feet long and contains multiple burials and grave goods, including weapons and seashells.
Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement in Turkey, is unique for its lack of streets. Residents entered homes via rooftops, a design likely influenced by flooding, climate control, community closeness, defense, and resource scarcity.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of 11,000-year-old feasting rituals in western Iran, involving wild animals transported from distances up to 70 kilometers. The findings, centered around the site of Asiab, suggest complex social practices and the deliberate effort to gather animals for communal events, potentially even sacrifice, predating agriculture.
A study combining archaeology and genetics, published in Science, reveals that the spread of Neolithic practices from Anatolia wasn't solely due to migration. Researchers found evidence of significant genetic continuity in West Anatolia over 7,000 years, despite cultural shifts like the adoption of agriculture and settled lifestyles. This suggests ideas and technologies spread without large-scale population movement in many areas. Some regions did experience migration and genetic mixing around 7,000 BCE, and later in the Aegean, but the overall picture is one of cultural diffusion occurring alongside, and often independently of, population shifts. The study highlights the importance of supporting research in the regions directly related to the questions being investigated and demonstrates a new methodology for integrating genomic and archaeological data.
Archaeologists have discovered a 5000-year-old piece of bread in Turkey and are working with a local bakery to recreate it, using ancient grains and techniques.
