A seminar titled “The Neolithization of Anatolia“ was held at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), delivered by Prof. Dr. Çiler Çilingiroğlu from the Department of Prehistoric and Near Eastern Archaeology at Ege University in Izmir, Turkey.

The seminar was opened by the institute’s director, Associate Professor and Ph.D. in History, Farhad Guliyev, who emphasized the relevance of research on the Neolithization of Anatolia and the South Caucasus, particularly the emergence and spread of early agriculture and animal husbandry in archaeological science. He informed the participants that Prof. Çiler Çilingiroğlu had been invited to Azerbaijan by Khazar University to share the latest findings on the Neolithization of Anatolia.

Prof. Dr. Çiler Çilingiroğlu began her lecture by expressing gratitude for the invitation. The Turkish scholar noted that archaeological cultures in the Anatolian peninsula had distinct characteristics based on their geographical location, landscape, ancient ecological environment, and chronological sequence.

Providing information about the Göbeklitepe site, which dates back approximately 12,000 years (9th millennium BCE), the lecturer explained that recent research indicates the site was not only a place of worship or a cultic structure for pre-pottery Neolithic people. Archaeological excavations have revealed the presence of residential structures around it. Although the population primarily consisted of hunter-gatherers, they were already processing grain with grinding stones and creating vessels from materials like leather, wood, and clay, even before mastering pottery technology.

Göbeklitepe, discovered by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, features “T”-shaped limestone pillars adorned with zoomorphic and mythical creature depictions, as well as pictographic landscape scenes. The animals and mythical beings are depicted in aggressive poses, and the scenes on the pillars reflect mythological narratives whose meanings remain unclear to us. The temple site at Göbeklitepe began construction during the earlier Mesolithic period and continued into the pre-pottery Neolithic era. Recent studies suggest that the ancient population responsible for the site practiced a male-dominated cult. The pillars were cut, polished, and decorated off-site, and when the ancient inhabitants abandoned the area, they buried the temple and residential structures, which is why the site has been so well-preserved until modern times.

Prof. Dr. Çiler Çilingiroğlu then shared the latest findings from the Çatalhöyük site, which dates to the second half of the 8th millennium BCE (early ceramic Neolithic period). According to the professor, Çatalhöyük represents a developed agricultural and pastoral economy. Genetic analyses of animal remains indicate that cattle, sheep, and pigs were domesticated in the Taurus Mountains of Anatolia, while goats were domesticated in the mountainous Zagros region of Iran, spreading worldwide through cultural migrations. Chemical residues found in vessels and clay containers at Çatalhöyük suggest the preparation of light alcoholic beverages from grains. The population that created Çatalhöyük had a religious worldview centered around female symbolism.

Following the lecture, Valeh Alakbarov, a leading researcher at the institute and Ph.D., presented the results of excavations at the Göytepe Neolithic settlement, associated with the Shomutepe culture. Additionally, Khagani Almammadov, head of the department, Associate Professor, and Ph.D., discussed the findings from Neolithic settlements related to the Karabakh Neolithic culture. The event concluded with discussions among the participating expert archaeologists on the topic.