Traces of permanent settlement dating back over 9,000 years discovered in central Türkiye

Archeologists unearth traces of permanent settlement dating back at least 9,300 years in excavation at Sircalitepe Mound in Nigde province

By Abdullah Ozkul

NIGDE, Türkiye (AA) - Archeologists in central Türkiye unearthed traces of permanent settlement dating back at least 9,300 years, the head of the dig site told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

"We can say that this is the oldest settlement in the borders of Nigde province," said archeologist Semra Balci, who leads the excavation team at the Sircalitepe Mound.

Balci, of Istanbul University, said her team had found bone and obsidian tools used in daily settled life, along with beads and other objects thought to be for ornamental purposes.

She added that two samples that they found had been radiocarbon dated, revealing that they were 9,600-9,300 years old.

Initial surface surveys conducted at the Sircalitepe Mound, located near sources of obsidian in the volcanic Cappadocia region, uncovered an obsidian working area, as well as the bone and stone tools.

With this year's dig season over, Balci said she and her team would continue to analyze their findings in artifacts and new architectural field data in their workshops.

Noting that the dig had also yielded specimens of oval arrowheads, she said: "Another important point is that no other site has so far been excavated with an obsidian working area and settlement together."


*Writing by Sevilay Beki, Seda Sevencan in Istanbul

Be the first to comment
UYARI: Küfür, hakaret, rencide edici cümleler veya imalar, inançlara saldırı içeren, imla kuralları ile yazılmamış,
Türkçe karakter kullanılmayan ve büyük harflerle yazılmış yorumlar onaylanmamaktadır.

Arts & Culture News