Hacilar facts for kids
 Location in Turkey
Location in Near East
|
|
| Location | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°35′05.4″N 30°05′04.1″E / 37.584833°N 30.084472°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 7,040 BC |
| Periods | Pre-Pottery Neolithic |
Hacilar was an ancient village in southwestern Turkey. It was built by early humans. This old settlement is about 23 kilometers (14 miles) south of the modern city of Burdur.
Scientists believe Hacilar was first settled around 7040 BC. This means it is over 9,000 years old! The village was left empty and then lived in again many times throughout its long history.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Hacilar
Hacilar existed a very long time ago, in what we call prehistory. Over thousands of years, the village turned into a large mound of earth. It stayed hidden until 1956.
That year, a local teacher showed the mound to a British archaeologist named James Mellaart. Mellaart then led a team to dig up Hacilar. Their work started in 1957 and finished in 1960.
The amazing objects found during these digs are now on display. You can see them at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Turkey.
What We Learned from Pottery
The clay pots found at Hacilar are similar to those made by the Halaf culture. The Halaf people lived around the same time. Even the small clay figures found at both sites look alike. This suggests there might have been some connection between these ancient groups.
Layers of History: Stratigraphy
Archaeologists dig down through layers of soil. Each layer, called a "stratum," tells a story about a different time period. At Hacilar, scientists found up to 11 different layers. This shows how long people lived there.
The very oldest layers are from the 8th millennium BC. This was a time when people did not yet make pottery.
Nine layers are from the 6th millennium BC. The oldest of these layers had pottery. Most of these early pots were plain, without any decorations.
Life in Level VI
Level VI is a very important layer, dating back to about 5600 BC. Many things were happening in Hacilar at this time. Archaeologists found nine buildings grouped around a central open area.
People in Hacilar mostly farmed for food. They grew crops like spelt, wheat, barley, peas, and vetch. They also raised animals. Bones of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and dogs were found. This shows they had farm animals.
The pottery from this time was simple. But some pots were shaped like animals, which is very interesting! Many clay figures of women were also found. These might have been used in religious practices.
Changes in Later Levels
By Level II, around 5300 BC, the village had changed. It was now fortified, meaning it had strong walls for protection. A small temple was also built in the village.
The settlement in Level I, which is from after 5000 BC, looks very different. Scientists think new people might have moved in and settled there. This last village was very strongly fortified. The pottery from this time is also very good quality. It is often painted red on a cream-colored background.
How Ancient Homes Were Built
The houses in Hacilar were built close together. They often surrounded a central courtyard. Each house had a strong stone foundation. This helped protect the homes from water damage.
The walls were made of wood and a mix of mud and straw called daub. Sometimes, they used mud-bricks. These materials were held together with lime mortar. Wooden poles inside each house held up a flat roof. It is thought that many of these houses had a second story made of wood.
Inside the Homes
The inside walls and floors were smooth. They were covered with plaster, which was put over a base of pebbles. Sometimes, the plaster was painted red and shined. Or it had simple red designs on a cream background.
Archaeologists did not find any doorways in the Hacilar houses. This makes them think that people might have entered their homes from the roof!
Over time, people added more features to their homes. They put querns (for grinding grain), braziers (for heating), and mortars (for crushing things) into the floors. Spaces in the walls were used as cupboards for storage. The kitchen was usually separate from the main living areas. The upper floors were likely used to store grain or as workshops.
Chronology
See also
- Çatalhöyük
- Köşk Höyük
- Mother Goddess
