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

NIGDE, Türkiye

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