Hacilar
# Hacilar

Hacilar is an early human settlement in southwestern Turkey, 23 km south of present-day Burdur. It has been dated back 7040 BC at its earliest stage of development. Archaeological remains indicate that the site was abandoned and reoccupied on more than one occasion in its history.

## Archaeological History

Hacilar lived and died in prehistory. What remained of Hacilar became a mound on the plain and remained so until 1956. It was in this year that a local teacher showed the mound to British archaeologist James Mellaart. In 1957 the excavation of Hacilar began under Mellaart's direction and continued until 1960. The artifacts recovered during this excavation are currently on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

Ceramics from Hacilar show similarities with those of the Halaf culture from about the same period. There are also similarities in their figurines.

### Stratigraphy

Up to 11 stratigraphic levels have been identified. The oldest strata belong to aceramic Neolithic, and are dated to the 8th millennium BC.

To the 6th millennium BC, nine levels are assigned, the oldest with ceramics, that were almost entirely undecorated.

Level VI is dating back to 5600 BC, and there were many activities at this time. Nine buildings were found, grouped around a square. Livelihood mainly consisted of agriculture. Spelt, wheat, barley, peas and vetch were cultivated. Villagers engaged in the breeding of animals; bones of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs were found. The pottery is simple, although some specimens represent animals.

Numerous nude female figures, made of clay, are quite remarkable, and possibly represent some divinity.

At level II (c. 5300 BC), the village was fortified and had a small temple.

The settlement of level I, dating after 5000 BC, differs significantly from the previous layers, so it is believed that there were newcomers who settled here. The site is now heavily fortified. The pottery is of high quality and is generally painted in red on a cream background.

## Architecture

Housing in Hacilar consisted of grouped units surrounding an inner courtyard. Each dwelling was built on a foundation of stone to protect against water damage. Walls were made of wood and daub or mud-brick that was mortared with lime. Wooden poles were located within each unit to support a flat roof. It is generally believed that these houses had an upper story made of wood.

The interiors were finished smooth with plaster and were rarely painted. Over time changes were made to the housing units; Querns, braziers and mortars appeared in the floors. Recesses in walls were also put to good use as cupboards. The kitchen was separated from the living rooms and the upper levels were used for granaries and/or workshops.

As Mellaart describes: 'The walls and floors were carefully plastered, laid on a pebble base. The plaster was frequently stained red and burnished or decorated with elementary geometric designs in red on cream.' In Hacilar houses no doorways were found. It seems possible that the entry was from the roof only.

## Chronology

vteChronology of the Neolithic period :

Pre-Pottery Neolithic   Pottery Neolithic :

BC

Europe

Egypt

Syria Levant

Anatolia

Khabur

Sinjar Mountains Assyria

Middle Tigris

Low Mesopotamia

Iran (Khuzistan)

Iran

Indus/ India

China

11000

Early Pottery (18,000 BC)

10000

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Gesher Mureybet (10,500 BC)

9000

Jericho Tell Abu Hureyra

8000

Pre-Pottery Neolithic B Jericho Tell Aswad

Göbekli Tepe Çayönü Aşıklı Höyük

Initial Neolithic (Pottery) Nanzhuangtou (8500–8000 BC)

7000

Egyptian Neolithic Nabta Playa (7500 BC)

Çatalhöyük (7500–5500) Hacilar (7000 BC)

Tell Sabi Abyad Bouqras

Jarmo

Ganj Dareh Chia Jani Ali Kosh

Mehrgarh I

6500

Neolithic Europe Franchthi Sesklo

Pre-Pottery Neolithic C ('Ain Ghazal)

Pottery Neolithic Tell Sabi Abyad Bouqras

Pottery Neolithic Jarmo

Chogha Bonut

Teppe Zagheh

Pottery Neolithic Peiligang (7000–5000 BC)

6000

Pottery Neolithic Sesklo Dimini

Pottery Neolithic Yarmukian (Sha'ar HaGolan)

Pottery Neolithic Ubaid 0 (Tell el-'Oueili)

Pottery Neolithic Chogha Mish

Pottery Neolithic Sang-i Chakmak

Pottery Neolithic Lahuradewa Mehrgarh II Mehrgarh III

5600

Faiyum A

Amuq A

Halaf Halaf-Ubaid

Umm Dabaghiya

Samarra (6000–4800 BC)

Tepe Muhammad Djafar

Tepe Sialk

5200

Linear Pottery culture (5500–4500 BC)

Amuq B

Hacilar Mersin 24–22  

Hassuna

Ubaid 1 (Eridu 19–15) Ubaid 2 (Hadji Muhammed) (Eridu 14–12)

Susiana A

Yarim Tepe Hajji Firuz Tepe

4800

Pottery Neolithic Merimde

Amuq C

Hacilar Mersin 22–20

Hassuna Late Gawra 20

Tepe Sabz

Kul Tepe Jolfa

4500

Amuq D

Gian Hasan Mersin 19–17

Ubaid 3

Ubaid 3 (Gawra) 19–18

Ubaid 3

Khazineh Susiana B

3800

Badarian Naqada

Ubaid 4

Succeeded by: Historical Ancient Near East :

