Archaeologists Uncover 8,800-Year-Old Farming Houses in Turkey

Archaeologists have made a significant discovery on Turkey’s westernmost island, unveiling the earliest known agricultural settlement in the Aegean Sea. Excavations at the Uğurlu-Zeytinlik Mound on Gökçeada, historically known as Imbros, have revealed five circular houses that date back approximately 8,800 years, predating many European farming communities by millennia.

This remarkable find positions Gökçeada alongside the famed site of Knossos in Crete as one of the few Neolithic settlements documenting the initial wave of farming communities to inhabit the Aegean Islands. The discovery underscores the region’s historical significance and its role in the development of early agricultural practices.

Professor Burçin Erdoğu from Akdeniz University has led the excavations at this site since 2009. He described the architectural features of the houses as unprecedented for the Aegean Islands. “This type of architecture has been encountered for the first time in the Aegean Islands,” he stated in an interview with Turkish media. His insights highlight the importance of the find in understanding the region’s ancient history.

The structures, dated to around 6800 BC, exhibit round designs with sunken floors. They were constructed using traditional wattle-and-daub techniques, which involve weaving reed walls and coating them with mud plaster. This building method provides crucial insights into the architectural practices of early agricultural societies.

The discovery at Uğurlu-Zeytinlik Mound not only contributes to our understanding of Neolithic life but also raises questions about the social and economic structures that supported these early communities. The findings may offer clues about how these inhabitants adapted to their environment and developed agricultural strategies that would sustain them.

As excavations continue, researchers aim to uncover more about the lives of the people who inhabited this settlement. The potential for further discoveries at the site could reshape our understanding of the Aegean’s prehistoric landscape and its connection to broader agricultural developments in Europe.

In summary, the discovery of these 8,800-year-old farming houses on Gökçeada marks a pivotal moment in archaeological research, linking Turkey’s ancient past to the rich tapestry of human history in the Aegean region.