Hacilar Mound (Hacilar Hoyuk)

Hacilar Mound (Hacilar Hoyuk)

Hacılar Höyük, situated on the Fethiye highway about 24 kilometers from Burdur, is a significant archaeological site located near the village of Hacılar. It contains nine settlement layers that span three different cultural periods: the Neolithic Period without Ceramics (dated to 7000 BC), the Late Neolithic Period (dated to 5600-5400 BC), and the Early Chalcolithic Period (dated to 5400-4750 BC).

Evidence of the first phases of the Chalcolithic Age has been discovered in both the first and fifth layers, which are unique among all of the cultural layers found within Hacılar Höyük. Among the cultural remains are colorful pottery decorated with geometric motifs and Mother Goddess figurines similar to those found in Çatalhöyük and other contemporary settlements. The discovery of bones and cutting tools provides evidence of a society in transition from a nomadic to a settled way of life.

Hacilar Mound (Hacilar Hoyuk)

The houses found in Hacılar were typically single-roomed or rectangular, with a courtyard and a door opening to it. The walls of these homes were made of mud bricks and were painted red. It was discovered that some of the homes had niches in their walls that extended 1 meter into its thickness. Ovens and benches were found in every home, suggesting that food preparation and consumption took place within the household. Interestingly, steps near the doors of the homes were also discovered, indicating that some houses may have been built on two levels rather than one, as previously believed. Additionally, it was noted that the dead were buried outside of the settlement boundaries, a practice that deviates from the norm of other civilizations of the time.

One of the most significant findings in Hacılar was the colorful pottery decorated with geometric motifs and animal shapes that were used for religious purposes. These animal-shaped vessels are currently on display at the Burdur Museum and are considered to be critical pieces of information related to the Neolithic Age.

Terracotta figurines, mostly depicting females, are also prevalent in the Hacılar archaeological site. These figurines, with their exaggerated proportions, are characteristic of Hacılar and seem more lively and active compared to those found at other Neolithic sites in Turkey, such as Konya Çatalhöyük. The site also revealed evidence of the development of agriculture, including cereal grains and cutting tools made of materials such as obsidian, horn, and slexus.