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Hittite territory Go to Europe Go to Asia Go to Mesopotamia Go to Levant Go to Mediterranean

This timelapse map:
History of Anatolia : Every Year
by Khey Pard can be useful.

c. 10,000 Pre-Pottery Neolithic A period begins in Levantine and Anatolian Neolithic culture until 8800.  Archaeological remains are in Levant and Upper Mesopotamia.  Tiny circular unbaked clay brick houses, semi-subterranean with stone foundations and terrazzo-floors, small hearths covered with cobbles.  Flint tools, crops cultivated, game hunted, heated rocks used in cooking, no pottery, corpses buried below floors of houses.  Sickle-blades and arrowheads continue traditions from late Natufian culture; transverse-blow axes and polished adzes first appear.  Most settlement have storage bins of stones or mud-brick. 10,000 wikPPNA, 9600 wikGbT
c.9500 Gobekli TepePre-Pottery Neolithic-A site GOBEKLI TEPE founded on top of a rocky hill in foothills of Taurus Mountains, lasts until 8000.  Earliest exposed structures are built 95-9000.  World's first religious sanctuary used by nomadic hunter-gatherers who eat domesticated cereals and live in villages for part of the year.  Tools include grinding stones and mortars and pestles.  Has world's oldest known megaliths (limestone),   As of 2021, less than 5% had been excavated. photo taken 2011: Teoman-cimit

9600 tanKrn 9500 wikGbT, 9000 wikNlt, wikPPNA
c.9400 Karahan TepeKARAHAN TEPE in Syria 46km east of Gobekli Tepe occupied.  Artifacts include obelisks, sculptures (mostly animals). photo 2023: Mahmut Bozarslan

11-9000 wikKrn 9400 tanKrn
c.9000 Some of the floors in the oldest layer of GOBEKLI TEPE are made of terrazzo (burnt lime); others are bedrock from which pedestals to hold the large pair of central pillars are carved in high relief.  These early circles are radiocarbon dated 9000 BCE. 9000 wikGbT
c.9000 Earliest date recorded for construction of temenoi ceremonial structures at GOBEKLI TEPE, possibly the oldest surviving proto-religious site on Earth. 9000 wikMgl, wikTop
c.9000 copperCOPPER V is first used in east Anatolia, Levant, and Mesopotamia.  Nuggets of it are found lying on the ground.  Evidence suggests that gold and meteoric iron (but not smelted iron) were the only metals used before copper. photo: Jonathan Zander

9000 wikCpr
c.9000 agricultureAGRICULTURE V is limited to the Fertile Crescent (Levant, Mesopotamia) and southeast Anatolia until 7000. timelapse: Wikirictor
c.8800 Pre-Pottery Neolithic-A period in Anatolia, Levant and Mesopotamia from 10,000 ends.  Pre-Pottery Neolithic-B begins until 6500. 8800 wikGbT, wikPPNA, wikPPNB
c.8630 CAYONU TEPESI  V at the foot of the Taurus mountains begins prospering until 6800.  At first, it has single room structures, round or with rounded corners.  On top are wattle and daub constructions.  Domestic animals appear at the end of Phase I (preceramic);  prior to that, the bones of wild game are abundant.  Mainly sheep are domesticated at first. 8630 wikCyn
c.8630 SHEEP, domesticated in north Mesopotamia from 9000, are domesticated in Anatolia.   Levant 7700   Greece 7200. 8630 wikCyn
c.8500 GOATS are domesticated in Anatolia, Asia and Mesopotamia. 8500 Copilot
c.8500 Wild AUROCHS are domesticated into CATTLE V in Anatolia and IndiaNot in Europe until 6400. 8500 Copilot, ttco, wikCtl, wikHAg
8000 ISBE 4-689, coca
c.8300 BONCUKLU HOYUK (9km from Catalhoyuk) is occupied until 7800.  Buildings are small, oval shaped with mudbrick walls.  Dead are buried below the floors.  Earliest known CERAMICS of Anatolia have been discovered here. 8300 wikBnH
c.8250 NEVALI CORI on both banks of the Kantara stream, a tributary of the Euphrates, level 2 is built. 85-8000 wikNC 8000 wikNlt '  
c.8200 ASIKLI HOYUK, 10 acre settlement mound in the Melendiz River Valley in an area covered by volcanic tuff, is occupied until 7400.  Proximity to an OBSIDIAN source makes it a base of trade with areas as far away as Cyprus and Mesopotamia. photo: Joe Wallace

8200 wikAsH
c.8000 farmingΛ AGRICULTURE V begins in southeast Anatolia, Levant, and Mesopotamia.  Digging sticks are used to plant grass seed.

Next 7000.
map: Eva Fernández

8000 TTPC
7000 IDBS 679
c.8000 WHEAT, cultivated in Levant from 9600, Mesopotamia from 8800, first cultivated in Anatolia.  When it spead to Europe is unknown. 8000 Copilot
c.8000 POTTERY first evidenced in Anatolia.   See China 9000, 8000 Copilot
c.8000 CAFER HOYUK in SE Anatolia is inhabited until ?. 8200 wikCfH
c.7800 BONCUKLU HOYUK, occupied from 8300, ends. 7800 wikBnH
fertile crescent

GFDL
c.7500 CAYONU Tepesi, prospering 8630-6800, has the most Λ CATTLE V at this time, but they are still phenotypically unchanged until 7000.  7500 wikCyn
c.7500 CATALHOYUK urban settlement founded in south central Anatolia.  Composed entirely of domestic buildings, with no obvious public buildings.  Lasts until 6400. 7500 wikCth 7000 wikTop
c.7500 In southeast Anatolia and Mesopotamia, Λ COPPER V is cold worked, annealed, smelted, and, lost-wax casted at the beginning of the Neolithic. 7500 wikCpr
c.7400 AskliASIKLI HOYUK, a 10 acre settlement mound in the Melendiz River Valley, occupied from 8200, is abandoned.  It contains over 400 rooms but not more than 70 bodies buried under floors, in a variety of postures, from fetal position to extended skeletons facing up.  Others are lying on a side, often with legs bent.  Orientation varies with the buildings, as does the number of individuals buried inside them. photo: Joe Wallace

7400 wikAsH
CatalhoyukCATALHOYUK model by Wolfgang Sauber. 7300 wikCth
c.7100 CATALHOYUK 7500-6400 bottom layer of buildings is built - residence only; no public buildings.  . 7100 wikCth
c.7100 CATALHOYUK, 7500-6400, becomes biggest neolithic site in Near East, noted for craftsmanship, art, and mud-brick houses crammed together in an aggregate structure.  Average population of 5-7,000.  Houses have plaster interiors accessed by squared-off timber ladders or steep stairs.  No footpaths or streets between dwellings, which are clustered in a honeycomb-like maze.  Ceiling openings are the only source of ventilation.  Rooftops serve as streets.  Women cultivate the crops and tend cattle while the men hunt with their newly domesticated dogs.  Dead are buried within the village. 7000 wikCth
c.7040 HACILAR V village level 1 founded in SW Anatolia.  Has 11 habitation levels, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs.  Cultivated spelt, wheat, barley, peas and vetch.  It shows evidence of a Chalcolithic Culture using pure copper along with stone.  Level 2 5300. 7040 wikHcl 5500 mxfld
c.7000 Λ CATTLE V become significantly smaller, at Cayonu, and continue thereafter at this and related sites in the area. 7000 wikCyn
c.7000 farmingΛ AGRICULTURE:  Settlements begin to spread from Anatolia to Aegean Islands and Crete until 6000. map: Eva Fernandez

7000 mxfld
c.7000 agricultureAGRICULTURE confined to the Fertile Crescent from 9000, spreads to the Nile, and from the west coast to the southeast Balkans. timelapse: Wikirictor
c.7000 Λ COPPER V is at least experimented with. 7000 TAWH 16
c.7000 WEAVING V, possibly known from the Paleolithic, evidenced by a piece of hemp cloth in burial F.7121 at Catalhoyuk.
See Peru 9600, Egypt 9000.
7000 wikWv
c.7000 Wheat, barley, pulses evidenced from Anatolia to Pakistan. 7000 PW 13
c.7000 PIGS domesticated in south Anatolia.
See China 7600, Europe 6500.
8-7000 Copilot     7500 ttcDP     7000 PW 13
c.6800 CayonuPre-Pottery Neolithic CAYONU TEPESI settlement at the foot of the Taurus mountains prospering from 8630 ends.  Last phase consists of grill-plan foundations under buildings.  Analysis of blood found at the site suggests HUMAN SACRIFICE V. photo: Krahenstein

6800 wikCy
c.6500 Pre-Pottery Neolithic-B period in Anatolia, Levant, and Mesopotamia from 8800 ends.  Pottery NEOLITHIC begins until ??. 7000 wikGbT     6500 wikPPNA, wikPPNB
c.6500 YESILOVA HOYUK, near Izmir on the west coast, occupied until 4200 6500 wikYsH
c.6400 Late Neolithic DOMUZTEPE in southeast Anatolia occupied until 5450.  A Halaf site. 6200 wikDmz
c.6400 Domestic Λ CATTLE, in Anatolia from 8500, taken to Europe. 6400 ttco
c.6400 CATALHOYUK V urban settlement in south central Anatolia from 7500 begins decline until 5000. 6400 wikCth
c.6300 MERSIN on south coast of Anatolia occupied until 350. 6300 wikMrs
c.6200 LINEN (and therefore Λ WEAVING) evidenced at Catalhoyuk. 6200 PW 13
6000 ISBE 4-1043
c.6200 Limited Λ COPPER smelting evidenced at Catalhoyuk. 6200 PW 13
c.6000 People whose place names and language are not Greek, spread over the east Mediterranean, introducing baked brick architecture.  They may be Luvians. 6000 mxfld
c.5600 Λ HACILAR V village level 6 is founded.  9 buildings are grouped around a square.  Villagers grow spelt, wheat, barley, peas and vetch; they breed animals; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs.  Ceramics are simple, but some specimens represent animals. 5600 wikHcl
c.5600 Λ CATALHOYUK 7500-5000 top layer of buildings is built - residence only; no public buildings. 5600 wikCth
c.5600 BLACK SEA, until now a freshwater lake, receives salt water coming thru the Bosporus from the Aegean. 5600 wikBS 5500 mxfld
c.5450 Late Neolithic DOMUZTEPE in southeast Anatolia, occupied from 6400, abandoned until Hellenistic period. 5450 wikDmz
c.5400 CHALCOLITHIC AGE begins in Anatolia until 3000. 5500 Copilot, tran, wikPA     5400 anan 3800 RAI2 190     3000 LEWH 17
c.5300 Λ HACILAR village level 2 is fortified and has a small temple. 5300 wikHcl
c.5000 CATALHOYUK, noted for mud-brick houses, craftsmanship, and art, declining from 6400, is abandoned. 6400 wikCH 5000 mxfld
c.5000 Neolithic site ALACA HOYUK level 1 founded NE of Bogazkoy.  Lasts until 2600. 5000 tat
c.4500 NORSUNTEPE, first of 40 levels occupied, a central hill 140m X 100m and 35m high, making it the largest tell in the area. 5-4000 wikNrs
c.4200 Arsenic-BRONZE V is produced at Degirmentepe. 4200 wikNrs 3600 TTPC
c.4200 YESILOVA HOYUK, near Izmir on the west coast, occupied from 6500, abandoned and covered with silt. 4200 wikYsH
by 4000 MELITENE (Arsiantepe) is first occupied until 3000. 6-5000 lvMlt
by 4000 wikMlt
c.4000 LIMANTEPE harbor village on west coast occupied.  It has a fortification wall partially submerged in the sea. 4000 wikLmt
c.3600 TROY V founded by petty chieftains.  Troy-1 begins until 2500. 3600 wikTry
3000 rcT     2750 MCAW
c.3500 CAN HASAN 1 in east Anatolia occupied until ??. 3750-3250 wikCH1
c.3400 KURA-ARAXES Culture, in the Caucasus from 3500, begins in Anatolia and  Persia until 2000. 3400 wikPI
c.3300 SWORD:  Arsiantepe swords are evidenced at Melitene (Arsiantepe) in east Anatolia.  They are about 60cm long, made from an arsenical Λ BRONZE V alloy.  Some are inlaid with silver. 3300 Copilot
c.3195  METEORS  bombard Earth, resulting atmospheric dust-veil as evidenced as cold period in narrow tree rings, and other world events. 3195 kpol, wikCEI, 3123 CWH
  c.3000 3000 map: DEMIS Mapserver
c.3000 CHALCOLITHIC AGE ends in Anatolia.  Began 5400. 3000 wikPA
2600 LEWH 17, RAI2 190
c.3000 Λ BRONZE AGE begins in Anatolia until 1400.
EARLY BRONZE AGE begins until 2500.
3300 wikPA     3000 SHT 1-595, TTPC, tran
c.3000 Λ TROY-1 V, occupied 36-2500, Fortified. 3000 wikTry
c.3000 INDO-EUROPEANS, now thruout Europe & Anatolia, have uniform culture until 2000. 3000
B76 2-614
c.3000 DEMIRCI HOYUK levels 1 & 2 occupied until 2500. 3000 wikDmH
3000 MELITENE (Arsiantepe), occupied from 4000, burnt, but survives. 3000 lvMlt
c.3000 KANESH (Nesha, Kultepe) level 1 occupied by Hatti and Hittites until 2500. 3000 wikKlt
c.2950 ASSYRIAN trading colonies established in Cappadocia until 1950. 1950 HCIP 1-210
c.2700 TITRIS HOYUK 1st occupation phase begins until 2400. 2700 wikTtH
c.2650 Royal Tomb14 shaft-grave Royal Tombs are built at Alaca Hoyuk.  1.5m deep, sealed by wood beams, containing dead with folded legs facing west.  Heads and legs of bulls are placed on platforms and the dead are adorned with gold fibulae, diadems, belt buckles, and gold-leaf figures.  Tombs contain 7 figurines, 4 of bronze, 3 of silver. photo: Bernard Gagnon

2850-2450 wikAlH
c.2600 Neolithic site ALACA HOYUK level 1 NE of Bogazkoy from 5000, abandoned until 2500 2600 tat
c.2500 EARLY BRONZE V AGE in Anatolia from 3000 ends.
MIDDLE BRONZE AGE begins until 2000.
2500 wikPA
c.2500 DEMIRCI HOYUK levels 1 & 2, occupied from 3000, end. 2500 wikDmH
c.2500 KANESH (Nesha, Kultepe), occupied by Hatti and Hittites from 3000, ends. 2500 wikKlt
c.2500 ALACA HOYUK, abandoned from 2600, level 2 occupied by the Hatti until 2100. 2500 tat
c.2500 HATTUSA founded by the Hatti.  One of many such small states supported by farming and which produce a distinctive, highly-burnished pottery.  It is not a capital until 1650. 2500 hifiHa
c.2500 Λ TROY-1 from 3600, ends.  TROY-2 begins until 2200.  Has towered walls, pottery wheels for distinctive flaring bowls and goblets. 2550 2500 rcT 2400 MCAW
c.2500 Domestic DONKEYS, in Levant from 3500, brought to Anatolia.   Mesopotamia 3100 2500 Copilot
c.2450 daggerDagger with a smelted iron blade and gold hilt from from a Hattic royal tomb at Alaca Hoyuk.  Early evidence for use of iron in Anatolia. photo: Stipich Bela

2500 Copilot 25-2400 wikAlH
c.2450 Domestic HORSES, in Asia from 4350, spread to Anatolia.   See Mesopotamia 2400, Levant 1600. 27-2200 Copilot
c.2400 ANATOLIA:  Prosperous civilization is growing.  Royal tombs of Alaca Hoyuk show prosperity and develop art.  Animal Λ SACRIFICE, but not human. 2400 MCAW
c.2400 TITRIS HOYUK, occupied from 2700, abandoned until 2300. 2400 wikTtH
c.2300 LUVIANS, origin unknown, at Beycesultan on the Meander River from ?, migrate to Konya until 2200. 2300 TAWH 54
c.2300 TITRIS HOYUK, abandoned from 2400, occupied 2nd time until ??. 2300 wikTtH
c.2200 TROY-2, founded 2500, sacked and burnt.  TROY-3, begins until 2050. 2200 rcT
2050 MCAW 18, 20
c.2200 LUVIANS, at Konya from 2300, migrate to Tarsus until . 2200 TAWH 54
c.2100 Indo-European HITTITES migrate from either Europe or Ukraine to Anatolia. 2100 TAWH 54, 2000 WPOT 199
c.2100 ALACA HOYUK, occupied by the Hatti from 2500, deserted until 2000. 2100 tat 2000 ISBE 1-324
c.2050 TROY-3, founded 2200, is destroyed, after inhabitants hide valuables in holes.  TROY V-4, 5, begins as unimportant villages, brick houses with domed ovens, lasts until 1900. 2050 MCAW 18, rcT
c.2050 GUTI in Anatolia overthrown by Assyrians. 2050 wikPA

Anatolia 2000-1301
V