During archaeological excavations in the Gyokhyyuk settlement in the Seidishir region of the Turkish province of Konya, a fragment of a clay vessel with the image of a human face was discovered. Its age is estimated at about 5 thousand years.
the settlement of Gyokhyyuk with an area of about 5 hectares, located 8 kilometers from Seydishekhir, was first detected in the 1950s during the research of James Mellard. In 2002, during the construction of the irrigation canal on the eastern slope of the hill, ancient artifacts accidentally found here, after which the work was suspended. In 2002-2005, the Horse Museum carried out rescue excavations.
After a long break in the study, they resumed in 2023 with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey under the leadership of the Associate Professor of the Archaeological Department of the University of Selchuk Ramazan Gundyuza. The expedition received support in the framework of the “Heritage of the Future” project, as well as with the participation of the Seydishekhir and Konia municipality.
According to Gunduz, in the third season of excavations, especially valuable artifacts were found: animal figures, prints, and obsidian arrowheads, stone tops. Among the finds, a fragment of the vessel with a relief image of the human face attracted special attention.
– a fragment of about 5 thousand years
, in an interview with an anadol correspondent, the archaeologist explained that the inhabitants of Gökheyuk attached great importance to symbolism, as evidenced by the found ceramics. “One of the examples is a vessel with the image of a human face, eyebrows, nose and almond -shaped eyes are distinctly highlighted on a fragment. Probably, this is part of the pot: curved eyebrows are connected to both sides. The threads were made during the manufacture of the vessel. Such images are characteristic of the early bronze age in the Western Anatolia and are found in the central, but so well -preserved examples in this The region has not yet been found, ”the archaeologist said that such vessels were used not only in everyday life, but also in rituals. Radiocarbon analysis at the University of Selchuk, ”he said.
, among other objects, the archaeologist called the figures of animals, seals, obsidian arrowheads and stone axes.
” Obsidian tips were attached to spears or arrows and served as effective weapons for hunting. Neolithic and Halcolite, performing the functions of a universal tool, ”he said.
Gunduz added that Gyokhyyuk is unique in that a continuous life from Neolithic to an iron century is traced on its territory, covering about 7 thousand years. According to him, thanks to the ongoing excavations, the settlement can become an important center for studying the prehistoric period of Anatolia.