Cayonu Excavation Site Located in the Ergani Valley, the site known as the Çayönü mountain pass is an important archaeological area covering over 6,000 square meters. The first scientific excavations at Çayönü began in 1962, led by renowned researchers Halet Çambel and Robert J. Braidwood. A section of this archaeological zone was converted into a museum between 1990 and 1991. When excavations resumed in 2015, the Open-Air Museum was further developed to include contemporary exhibits. These new additions help visitors better understand the historical links between ancient settlements and the nearby Hilar Rocks, as well as how prehistoric communities used pottery to reflect their way of life. Çayönü is especially significant for its role in the transformative era from 9,300 to 6,300 B.C., a 3,000-year span marking humanity's shift from a nomadic lifestyle based on hunting and gathering to permanent settlement and animal domestication. While early inhabitants took steps to preserve their natural surroundings, they also made full use of them and developed mythologies to address the challenges of environmental degradation. The architectural legacy of Çayönü holds great importance, as it introduced practical solutions to everyday structural challenges. For example, one-story square dwellings were built atop stone foundations, while circular shelters known as pothole houses were made using wattle or reed materials. These designs played a pivotal role in shaping what would later become traditional Anatolian village architecture. The site is also home to terrazzo, regarded as the oldest form of mosaic flooring, crafted by heating lime. Among the most fascinating structures is the Kafataslı Yapı, or Skull Building, which contains the remains of around 400 individuals and symbolizes early beliefs in ancestor worship and mortuary rituals. Another highlight is the Flagstone Building, which features chamber tombs reflecting early burial traditions. The structure known as Placa, measuring 60 by 20 meters, stands gracefully supported by tall, rectangular stone pillars. The excavation at Çayönü revealed not only beads and various forms of decorative jewelry but also functioning as workshops for a variety of other items. These included the production of needles, scrapers, and stone drill bits, which were used for creating holes in rock. The graves uncovered at the site contained a variety of beads and similar items made from different materials such as stones, teeth, and shells. The tendency to use curved designs rather than settling on a specific technique suggests that the people preferred items that were custom-made or traded, rather than produced locally within the settlement. The archaeological evidence connected to fabric production indicates that textile manufacturing was a significant occupation during this time. The presence of needles and thimble sets made of bone points to the considerable amount of sewing activity that took place during this period. A variety of excavation tools were discovered at the settlement, including stalked excavators, knives, pencils, and different types of drill bits and ends made from flint stones and obsidian. The presence of horn hooks, milling stones, grinding stones, and beetles highlights the significance of cereals and pulses in plant cultivation. Additionally, stone tools such as stone cannons, channel stones, and flat-hole stones provide evidence of agricultural practices alongside foraging activities. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding Cayonu, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.