title: Hacilar
text: # 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 :
  
  