Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük
Roof-access houses and the organisation of early settled life.
Why does it matter?
Çatalhöyük’s closely packed houses reveal an arrangement unlike the streets of a modern town. Its eastern and western mounds document changes through the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Wall paintings, reliefs and domestic layouts connect everyday activities with the symbolic world of communities adapting to settled life.
- Closely packed houses
- Access through roofs
- Wall paintings and reliefs
Before you set off.
Approach the site through its settlement plan rather than expecting towering monuments. Check current routes around protected excavation areas. Plan it as a different kind of visit from the historic buildings in central Konya, leaving room to understand the archaeological interpretation.
Opening, admission, restoration and access arrangements can change. Check current conditions with the site’s official operator.
Connect the discovery to a city.
These province guides are starting points for nearby sights and local flavours, rather than a boundary map or an organised tour itinerary.
Source and review date
Based on the property record of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Read the official property recordReviewed: 29 October 2026Another story to discover.
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