Oylum Höyük, Archaeological mound in Kilis Province, Turkey
Oylum Höyük is an archaeological mound in Kilis Province built up from countless layers of human settlement stacked over time. The site rises 22 meters on its northern edge and reaches 37 meters on the southern side, spanning roughly 460 by 320 meters across the ground.
The settlement at this location shows evidence of habitation spanning roughly 5,500 years, starting from the Late Chalcolithic period and continuing through the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and into classical times. The stacked layers reveal how the societies at this place transformed and adapted over millennia.
Excavations revealed a monumental palace structure from the Middle Bronze Age, along with seal impressions and clay cuneiform tablets indicating administrative functions.
The location is today an active archaeological excavation site where specialists are regularly uncovering and studying the mound's layers. Visitors should know that access may be restricted or limited depending on ongoing fieldwork and current excavation activities.
Excavations have uncovered ancient food stores including grains, legumes, figs, and grapes from the Chalcolithic period. These plant remains offer a rare glimpse into the everyday diet and farming practices of those early inhabitants.
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