Domuztepe, Archaeological excavation site near Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
Domuztepe is an archaeological excavation site south of Kahramanmaraş that uncovers the remains of a prehistoric settlement spread across a substantial area. The landscape reveals scattered circular structures that once served as homes, along with stone tools, pottery vessels, and burial grounds that document daily life from thousands of years ago.
The settlement was inhabited roughly 6200 to 5450 BC and represents the largest known community from the Halaf period in southeastern Turkey. Its extended occupation spanning many centuries demonstrates how a thriving society maintained itself across generations.
The site reveals how people organized communal life through the layout of circular structures and shared gathering spaces. Pottery and animal bones scattered across the settlement suggest residents engaged in collective feasting and cooking practices that brought the community together.
Reaching this location requires arranging your own transportation since public transit does not serve the remote area where it sits. Plan ahead by checking whether ongoing excavations are open to visitors and bring sturdy footwear suitable for uneven terrain.
Obsidian artifacts sourced from Armenia have been discovered here, revealing that residents maintained contact with communities located hundreds of kilometers away. This evidence shows that long-distance trade and exchange networks existed even in prehistoric times.
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