In Şanlıurfa, excavations at Mendik Tepe—considered to be older than Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known as the “zero point of history”—are revealing traces of the transition to settled life.

Professor Douglas Baird, from the University of Liverpool’s Department of Archaeology and head of the Mendik Tepe excavations, said: “These studies contribute to understanding both the development of the Taş Tepeler Project and how the Neolithic period began and evolved. Data on the transition of humans to a settled lifestyle will be evaluated.”

Within the framework of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Taş Tepeler Project,” excavations at Mendik Tepe—assessed as potentially older than Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe—are bringing to light structures from the Neolithic period. Located in Payamlı village in the Eyyübiye district, Mendik Tepe was first identified by Çakmak Tepe excavation director Fatma Şahin.

The excavations, which began in 2024 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Douglas Baird, are being carried out with the collaboration of the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum and support from the British Institute of Archaeology.

Structures of various sizes discovered
Baird explained that different-sized structures had been uncovered, ranging from small-scale buildings possibly used for storage or food preparation to larger ones that might have served as houses or ritual spaces. One particularly well-built structure, with carefully crafted stonework, is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes.

Pointing to the earliest phases of the Neolithic period
Baird emphasized that Mendik Tepe may date back to the very beginning of the Neolithic era. While connected to Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, it might represent an even earlier settlement. Similar findings at nearby Çakmak Tepe also suggest that both sites could predate other settlements included in the Taş Tepeler Project.

Unlike the large “T”-shaped monoliths found at Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, Mendik Tepe features standing stones of different forms, highlighting a distinct characteristic of this settlement.