Çayönü, Prehistoric archeological site in Ergani, Turkey
Çayönü is a prehistoric settlement in Ergani where archaeologists have uncovered the remains of early human habitation. The excavations reveal residential buildings, storage structures, and communal spaces spread across different layers, documenting daily life from thousands of years ago.
The settlement was founded around ten thousand years ago and shows how people began to settle in one place. Systematic excavations since the 1960s revealed multiple occupation layers and evidence of continuous human presence over many centuries.
The artifacts reveal how people here started farming and raising animals instead of hunting alone. This shift toward settled life is visible in the uncovered homes and storage buildings that show a new way of living.
The site is reachable by road from Diyarbakır and offers guided tours for exploration. Visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and limited shelter, so comfortable footwear and sun protection are recommended.
The site contains the earliest known evidence of copper working, where people made tools and ornaments through cold hammering. These early metalworkers used sophisticated techniques long before bronze was invented.
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