Boncuklu Tarla Neolithic Archaeological Excavation Site (11,000 BC)

History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore Boncuklu Tarla is one of the most ancient settlements and belief centers in human history, located within the borders of Dargeçit's Ilısu District and dating back to 11,000 to 8,000 BC (Pre-Pottery Neolithic Period). In the area that is contemporary with Göbeklitepe and some of its layers are even older than Göbeklitepe; Monumental public temple structures, T-shaped stelae, stone-based residences and more than 100 thousand pierced beads made of colored stones, bones and seashells, which gave the area its name, were found. It is a world-class archaeological treasure, documenting the transition of human beings from hunter-gatherers to settled villages, their belief rituals and the first culture of aesthetic decoration. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features The excavation site is located at an altitude of 510 meters, on a limestone slope overlooking the Tigris River valley. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees