From nomads to farmers: Türkiye’s ‘Stone Mounds’ sheds light on Neolithic evolution

The Sanliurfa Neolithic Research Project, also known as Tas Tepeler (Stone Mounds), is shedding light on a pivotal period in human history—the transition from nomadic lifestyles to sedentary farming societies.

This groundbreaking archaeological project explores the evolution of prehistoric communities, uncovering the transformative shift from mobile groups to settled agricultural societies.

Unveiling roots of sedentary life

The primary objective of the Stone Mounds project is to create a comprehensive inventory of settlements, campsites, hunting grounds, and similar sites dating back to the 10th to the 7th millennium B.C.

Archaeologists aim to carry out excavations at select locations, providing invaluable data to understand how prehistoric societies embraced sedentary life and food production.

By investigating these ancient settlements, researchers aim to offer a multidimensional understanding of the process that led to the complete adaptation of farming societies. The project holds great promise for advancing our knowledge of the daily lives, social structures, and agricultural practices of early communities.

Stone Mounds: Delving into past with paleoenvironmental research

Besides excavations, the Stone Mounds project will also delve into paleoenvironmental studies to better understand the environments surrounding these ancient sites. By placing these findings in regional and chronological contexts, researchers aim to offer a clearer picture of the ecosystems in which early human societies lived.

Preserving cultural heritage for future generations

The Stone Mounds project extends beyond archaeological research, with a focus on cultural heritage initiatives designed to protect and preserve ancient sites for future generations. These projects will also highlight traditional village architecture and disappearing production methods.

By documenting and safeguarding these cultural values, the project aims to ensure the long-term preservation of vital elements of our shared heritage.

Well, what are the names of the nine stone mounds in Sanliurfa, and where are they located?

Sogut Tarlasi-Biris Mezarligi: Early Neolithic insights in Sanliurfa

Located 32 kilometers northwest of Sanliurfa, Sogut Tarlasi-Biris Mezarligi is a significant archaeological site offering insights into some of the world’s earliest Neolithic settlements.

First discovered in 1963, excavations have revealed two cultural horizons: the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B and the Uruk period.

Recent research, starting in 2022, continues to uncover artifacts, including polished stone pestles, greenstone axes, and limestone cups, similar to those found at other notable Neolithic sites like Gobeklitepe.

These findings provide valuable information about early farming communities and hunter-gatherer groups in the region, as well as their connections with Mesopotamia during the fourth millennium B.C.

Harbetsuvan Tepesi: Neolithic site in Southeastern Türkiye

Located 45 kilometers (27.9 miles) southeast of Sanliurfa, Harbetsuvan Tepesi (Harbetsuvan Mound) offers views of both Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, suggesting its role in the Neolithic landscape. Excavated between 2017-2019, the site revealed Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) stone structures, including a seated male sculpture similar to those at Gobeklitepe. The site may have been a small cultic center.

A new project began in 2022 using geophysical techniques, uncovering rectangular structures and a potential surrounding feature. This research aims to explore the Neolithization process in the region. Excavations uncovered rectangular buildings, artifacts like stone tools, and personal ornaments made from non-local materials, indicating trade. A surface survey revealed flint artifacts, adding to the site’s significance.

Harbetsuvan Tepesi, likely part of a larger site complex, offers key insights into early Neolithic culture and paleoenvironmental conditions in southeastern Anatolia.

Ancient legacy of Yenimahalle: Balikligol Statue

Located north of Balikligol and southwest of the Selahattin Eyyubi Mosque, Yenimahalle lies in a hilly area overlooking the Balikligol plateau. Extensive research confirms its origins in the Neolithic Period.

The discovery of the Balikligol Statue in 1994 further highlights the site’s archaeological importance.

Gurcutepe: A key Neolithic site in Sanliurfa

Gurcutepe, located 4 kilometers southeast of Sanliurfa, spans 1200 x 800 meters and features eight settlements. Occupied from the Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic, it is near natural springs and the Sirrin stream. Excavations, led by a Turkish-American team in the 1990s, revealed Neolithic buildings and artifacts.

Research since 2021 focused on uncovering two layers of settlements. Layer 1 revealed stone-founded buildings, domestic tools, and figurines, indicating crafts and domestic activities. Layer 2 contained stone houses and figurines. The primary diet included sheep, goats, and pigs. The project aims to explore lifestyle changes and the reasons for moving from hills to plains during this transformative period.

Sefertepe: Easternmost Neolithic site of Sanliurfa

Sefertepe is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlement located 72 km east of Sanliurfa, near Viransehir. Discovered in 2013 after a student’s tip-off, the site was later registered as an archaeological area. Initial research between 2000 and 2003 uncovered pillars and Neolithic artifacts. Excavations began in 2021 under the Sanliurfa Neolithic Research Project – Stone Mounds.

The site features quadrangular buildings similar to Gobeklitepe, with lime-clay mortar floors, benches, and platforms. Excavations have revealed 10 pillars—three T-shaped and seven quadrangular—decorated with geometric motifs. Finds include flint and obsidian tools, grinding stones, and stone vessels. Beads made of jade, limestone, and bone, along with a unique snakehead-shaped piece, highlight Sefertepe’s symbolic artifacts. A limestone object with 13 circular carvings further connects the site to Neolithic traditions.

Sayburc: A journey through prehistoric architecture and symbolism

Sayburc, is located on the southern foothills of the Eastern Taurus Mountains, near the Harran Plain, about 60 kilometers east of the Euphrates River and 20 kilometers southwest of Sanliurfa. The settlement sits on Eocene limestone hills, with Neolithic layers found on two main hills. Sayburc was registered as an archaeological site in 2020, following Roman findings.

In May 2021, Neolithic structures were discovered, leading to ongoing excavations under the Sanliurfa Neolithic Research Project in collaboration with Istanbul University.

Excavations focus on two areas:

• Northern area: A 14-meter-diameter circular structure carved into the rock with relief-adorned benches and small pillars.
• Southern area: Interconnected stone buildings with T-shaped and human-like pillars, their floors carved into bedrock.

The research aims to study the settlement’s development, daily life, plant and animal domestication, and the symbolic meaning of reliefs, sculptures, and ornaments. The reliefs depict two humans, two leopards, and a bull in dynamic scenes emphasizing movement.

These carvings likely represent rituals or stories reflecting the community’s worldview, showcasing the transition from nomadic to sedentary life.

Gobeklitepe: Unraveling mysteries of Early Neolithic civilization

Gobeklitepe, dating to ca. 9,600–7,750 B.C., is situated 15 km northeast of modern Sanliurfa, Türkiye. It spans nine hectares on a peak in the Germus mountain range, offering views over the Harran Plain. Discovered in the 1960s during a field survey, Gobeklitepe became famous for its Neolithic flint artifacts. Excavations began in 1995 under Harald Hauptmann and Klaus Schmidt, revealing monumental T-shaped pillars.

The Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum took over excavations in 2014, and the site was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2018. Gobeklitepe gained greater attention during the 2019 “Gobeklitepe Year.”

Initially thought to be a ritual site, recent research has focused on houses without T-shaped pillars, revealing that people lived at Gobeklitepe throughout its 1,750-year history. This makes it comparable to other early Neolithic settlements in Upper Mesopotamia.

Karahantepe: A monumental Neolithic settlement in Tek Tek Mountains

Karahantepe, is situated in the Tek Tek Mountains National Park, approximately 55 km from downtown Sanliurfa. The Tek Tek Mountains, a 60-kilometer-long plateau between the Harran and Viransehir plains, feature limestone heights that served as building material for the T-shaped pillars found at Karahantepe and other nearby sites.

The settlement is divided into four distinct sections: the western and eastern terraces with visible T-shaped pillars, the Southern Plain with residential artifacts, the Quarries where pillars were quarried, and the southern and western terraces with more remnants. The landscape and bedrock morphology support this division.

Karahantepe was discovered in 1997 and has been part of the Sanliurfa Neolithic Research Project since 2019, managed by an international team from Istanbul University.

The site has yielded significant archaeological insights, with excavations revealing structures and artifacts across multiple phases. Excavations on the western slope have uncovered a settlement with three distinct phases, indicating a long-term occupation.

The site’s sloping topography reveals bedrock surfaces and carved structures, some of which date back to the early Neolithic period.

A complex of circular communal buildings has been excavated, with Structure A.D. standing out. This 23-meter-wide building, carved into the bedrock, features 16 supporting pillars and a series of pits, suggesting a ritualistic function. Nearby Structure AB has a human head carved into the bedrock and 10 phallic pillars, further indicating the ritualistic nature of the site, possibly related to puberty or transition rituals.

The settlement includes various dwellings around the communal buildings. These buildings vary in size and shape because of the topography, but share certain features, such as small interior pillars and domestic artifacts, like ground stones and pestles.

On the western slope, quadrangular communal buildings were constructed following the natural slope of the land. These buildings, with their meticulously built walls and T-shaped pillars, suggest a planned and symbolic use.

Some buildings are adorned with arm and hand reliefs, and their floors are covered with stone slabs or terrazzo. These structures were deliberately filled in after their use, reflecting their significance in the broader social context.

Karahantepe is vital for understanding the early Neolithic period in southeastern Anatolia. Its monumental structures, including T-shaped pillars and communal buildings, offer insights into the social, religious, and technological advancements of early sedentary communities. The site stands as a testament to the complexity and diversity of Neolithic societies in the region.

Cakmaktepe: Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlement

Cakmaktepe is located 20 kilometers southwest of Sanliurfa, in Herim/Odullu village, Kocoren neighborhood, Eyyubiye district, at 670 meters above sea level on the Fatik (Cudi) Mountains. The settlement spans about 150 meters in diameter, with additional buildings surrounding the main area.

Nearby settlements such as Bademli, Sayburc, Yogunburc, Ayanlar, Borbore, Mendik, Gotik Tepesi and Nergislik indicate this region’s importance in the transition from nomadic hunting-gathering to settled life.

Discovered in 2021 during the Sanlıurfa Archaeological Survey (SAYA) Project, excavations started with Cukurova University and the Sanliurfa Archaeological Museum, joined by the University of Tsukuba in 2022. The site revealed bedrock dwellings with terrazzo floors and conical pits, similar to those in Natufian Levant settlements, offering insights into early food production. Cakmaktepe’s subterranean dwellings suggest a densely populated area ideal for early communities.

One of the major discoveries is a circular 16-meter building carved into the bedrock. It lacked partition walls but featured post holes and a possible bench area. A quadrangular structure with an open side was also found, indicating intentional filling and the presence of pillar fragments. Other communal buildings contained animal skulls, likely used for rituals.

Artifacts include stone vessels, ornaments, ground stones, and grinding slabs, suggesting plant processing. Animal bones, such as cattle, horses, gazelles, and rabbits, were identified. Animal traps or hunting grounds near the settlement likely supported the community’s nutrition.

An antelope hunting scene artifact underscores hunting’s importance. Chipped stone tools date the settlement to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPNA), around 10,000-9,500 B.C.

Cakmaktepe offers critical insights into early sedentary life. It predates other major Pre-Pottery Neolithic sites like Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, showing an earlier stage in Anatolia’s settlement development.

Cakmaktepe offers critical insights into early sedentary life. It predates other major Pre-Pottery Neolithic sites like Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, showing an earlier stage in Anatolia’s settlement development.

The Sanliurfa Neolithic Research Project, through its exploration of the Stone Mounds and other pivotal sites, offers invaluable insights into the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural societies.

The findings from various locations, including Gobeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Cakmaktepe, shed light on the early development of human civilization in southeastern Anatolia. These sites not only reveal the evolution of early farming practices but also provide a deeper understanding of social, cultural and religious transformations during the Neolithic period.