Çhatalhöyük, 25 miles from Konya, translates as fork tumulus and was first excavated in 1958 by James Mellaart (later banned from Turkey following an archeological controversy). Eighteen layers of inhabitation have been discovered over a large area, showing that the settlement existed from around 7500 BC to 6400 BC. At its peak 10,000 people lived in the town, comprising interconnected homes made of mud and straw. Most houses were accessed through the roof, with the “streets” being on top of the houses.
Excavation is ongoing and a new visitor centre is being built to help boost visitor numbers to this UNESCO world heritage site – when we visited there were less than ten other people at the site.
Shilli-Fully Travels 