Aşıklı Höyük

Aşıklı Höyük is an important archaeological site located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, near the modern town of Kızılkaya in Aksaray Province. It is one of the earliest known Neolithic settlements in the region, dating back to approximately 8200 BCE. The site provides valuable insights into the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to sedentary agricultural communities.

History and Excavation

Aşıklı Höyük was first discovered in the 1960s, but systematic excavations began in 1989 under the direction of Professor Ian Hodder and later continued by Professor Mihriban Özbaşaran. The site covers an area of about 4 hectares and consists of multiple layers of occupation, indicating a long period of habitation.

The earliest levels of Aşıklı Höyük reveal small, round or oval mudbrick houses with hearths and storage pits. These structures suggest a community that was beginning to experiment with agriculture and animal domestication, particularly of sheep and goats.

Significance

Aşıklı Höyük is significant for several reasons:

• Early Agriculture: The site provides some of the earliest evidence of cultivation of cereals such as emmer wheat and barley.
• Domestication: It shows early attempts at animal husbandry, with evidence of domesticated sheep and goats.
• Architecture: The architecture at Aşıklı Höyük is notable for its use of mudbrick and the development of communal spaces.
• Social Organization: The site offers insights into the social organization of early Neolithic communities, including the development of trade and craft specialization.

Findings

Excavations at Aşıklı Höyük have uncovered a wealth of artifacts, including:

• Stone tools: A variety of lithic tools, including obsidian blades and scrapers.
• Pottery: Although the site is primarily pre-pottery, some later levels show early examples of ceramics.
• Human remains: Burials at the site provide information on the health, diet, and mortuary practices of the inhabitants.

Also see

• Çatalhöyük
• Göbekli Tepe
• Neolithic Revolution
• Pre-Pottery Neolithic