Excavations in Turkey's Cayonu mound to shed light on Neolithic era

By Bestami Borduk

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - Archaeological teams in Turkey continue excavations in the Cayonu mound, a Neolithic settlement where traces of settled life and production are observed.

The excavations in Cayonu, in the southeastern Diyarbakir province, began in 1964, but they were halted in 1991 due to security reasons. The work has resumed in 2017 with a team led by Asli Erim Ozdogan.

After inspecting the site, Governor Munir Karaloglu told reporters that the Cayonu mound is "a region where the firsts of humankind were experienced on the earth."

Karaloglu said that human beings have passed from nomadic life to settled life and cultural agriculture in Cayonu, adding that this area also has an "important place" in the history of mining.

"Cayonu is the region where copper mines were processed hot and cold for the first time and were perhaps the first place where leatherwork had been done," he said.

Stating that it is a region where construction technology also has a historical background, Karaloglu said during this year's excavations they opened a chest-type tomb, which "brought Cayonu closer to today for another 3,000 years."

"Our whole aim is to bring Diyarbakir back to the agenda of humanity, as it deserves, with its history, culture and civilization values," he concluded.

*Writing By Beyza Binnur Donmez