CATALHOYUK
Çatalhöyük at Çumra, 45 km south of Konya,
is a fascinating Neolithic site in Central Anatolia dating from the 10th-8th millennium B.C.,
which makes it one of the world's oldest towns. Archaeologists have determined
that holes in the roofs of the mud houses were the entrance doors. Ankara's
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations houses the
famous temple-house (reconstructed), along with mother-goddess Cybele
figures, obsidian and clay objects and Neolithic frescoes from the original
site.
The discovery of this
Neolithic settlement, the largest and most complex
known in the world, was among the great archaeological finds of the 1960s.
Here was evidence of one of the first agricultural - based settlements
and a place where women may have had a central
leadership role. Found amid the ruins were wooden, metal, and earthenware
artifacts, as well as murals, bas-reliefs, and sculptures that depicted
systems of early belief. The archaeologists suddenly abandoned their work
after five years and the ruins were left exposed. Not until 1993 was remedial
conservation work undertaken on site.
Open trenches had allowed walls and associated art to disintegrate.
Previous Watch listing elicited funds for urgent backfilling and shoring
up of walls, but much still needs to be done. The Catalhoyuk Friends association
and other organizations raised some money to build a roof on top to protect
the wall paintings. Another major threat results from the severe drop in
the water table due to a local irrigation project. The Turkish Water Authority
(DSI) has suggested digging a water channel around the ruins. This must
be done on an emergency basis to save the artifacts still undiscovered
within the buried city. Future plans call for a conservation facility,
museum, and visitor center.
Çatalhöyük was listed in 1996 as one of the 100 most endangered sites
of the world by the World Monuments Fund.
The site can be visited all year around, but it is advised to visit
it during the excavations, usually between April and October every year.
The excavations are sponsored by many local and foreign companies including
Boeing, Visa, Koc etc.
On the way south to Beysehir (Konya) you can
stop at Eflatun Pinari next to the lake to see this unusual Hittite
monumental fountain. The excavation of the site is on its way.
Several interesting Seljuk buildings are scattered
around lovely Beysehir, on the shores of Turkey's
third largest lake, Beysehir Lake. In the southwestern region of the lake
is the pristine wilderness of Lake Beysehir National
Park. Among the monuments are the Esrefoglu Mosque
and Medrese, and the Kubad-Abad Summer Palace
across the lake. Another medieval palace stands on Kizkalesi Island, opposite
the Kubad-Abad Palace. Haci Akif Island also offers relaxation and recreation
to visitors.