Archaeologists discover 8,800-year-old dwellings on a distant western isle

Excavations at Ugurlu-Zeytinlik Mound on Gökçeada Island Reveal Ancient Settlement's Evolution

The ancient settlement at Ugurlu-Zeytinlik Mound, located on Turkey's westernmost island of Gökçeada, is shedding new light on the beginnings of urbanization in the Aegean. Archaeological excavations at the site, which have been ongoing since 2009, have uncovered five architectural structures dating back 8,800 years.

Led by Prof. Burcın Erdoğu from Akdeniz University's Department of Archaeology, the excavations have revealed that the settlement began to expand around 5800 B.C. Prior to this, there were approximately nine to ten houses in a small area at the settlement. However, by 5300 B.C., a transformation in the settlement's organization and architecture is visible. This transformation is evident across the entire material culture of the period.

Erkan Gürçal, a member of the excavation team, focused his doctoral and master's research on the Ugurlu-Zeytinlik Mound. His research indicates that the settlement spread to different parts of the island around 5800 B.C. Gürçal's doctoral study analyzed the social organization of the settlement between 5500 and 4900 B.C. through its architecture.

The findings from this year's excavations are expected to provide significant insights into the past of Gökçeada and the Aegean Islands. The site offers the earliest evidence of an agricultural and pastoral economy, the first pottery production, metallurgy, and monumental architecture.

Besides Prof. Burçin Erdoğan, other archaeologists involved in the excavations include researchers such as Prof. Halil Tekin and Dr. Elif Demir. Gürçal's research suggests that the settlement's organization and architecture underwent a significant shift between 5800 and 5300 B.C. During this period, data on the settlement's organization and architecture is limited.

The Ugurlu-Zeytinlik Mound is believed to be the earliest settlement of the Aegean Islands, dating back to around 6800 B.C. The transformation reflects the community's evolving way of life, as the settlement evolved from a small, compact area to a larger, more spread-out settlement.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry's Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums has granted permission for the excavations, recognising their importance in understanding the early history of the Aegean. The mound is approximately one kilometer northeast of Uğurlu village on the island's western tip.

As the excavations continue, researchers hope to uncover more about the daily lives of the people who lived at Ugurlu-Zeytinlik Mound thousands of years ago, and the ways in which their society evolved over time. The findings from these excavations will undoubtedly contribute to our understanding of the early history of the Aegean and the development of urban civilization in the region.