Monjukli Depe, Archaeological excavation site near Kopet Dag mountains, Turkmenistan.
Monjukli Depe is an archaeological excavation site of a prehistoric settlement in Turkmenistan located between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range. The remains consist of layered deposits from different early periods, with the original settlement rising approximately 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the surrounding plains and covering a diameter of roughly 40 meters (130 feet).
The site was first excavated in 1959 and contains settlement layers spanning from the Neolithic through the Chalcolithic periods. These remains document an important transition in how early people adapted to life in this region over successive generations.
The settlement shows how early Neolithic communities organized their spaces, with rectangular dwellings and areas where people gathered together for daily activities. Visitors walking through the excavation can see how room arrangements reflect the practical needs of ancient families.
The site is accessible from the nearby village of Meana, approximately three kilometers away, and is regularly visited by research teams. Visitors should be prepared for hot and dry conditions with little shelter available on the open terrain.
The site is the only known location where Neolithic Jeitun culture layers are directly connected to the subsequent Chalcolithic period remains. This unbroken sequence allows researchers to trace how society evolved across these two major early periods.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
