History

The introduction of Çayönü Tepesi to the scientific world began in 1963 with field surveys conducted around Ergani in Diyarbakır. Systematic archaeological excavations at the settlement—identified during surveys led by Prof. Dr. Halet Çambel from the Department of Prehistory at Istanbul University and Prof. Dr. Robert J. Braidwood from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago—began one year later, in 1964.

Initially launched to investigate traces of the transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled life, food production, and a new social order in Southwest Asia, the research soon revealed that the significance of Çayönü Tepesi far exceeded initial expectations. The settlement became one of the primary reference centers in world archaeology, where the fundamental dynamics of Neolithic life—from the transformation of architecture to the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, and from the use of native copper to the evolving modes of production in daily life—could be traced over an extended timeframe.

Spanning over sixty years, the tradition of scientific research at Çayönü has evolved across different eras through changing research questions and methodologies to reach the present day. This long-standing process also fostered an important scientific school where numerous scholars who contributed to the development of prehistoric archaeology in Turkey were trained.

The first era of excavations, which began in 1964, was carried out within the framework of a joint Turkish–American research program co-directed by Prof. Dr. Halet Çambel and Prof. Dr. Robert J. Braidwood. This scientific collaboration between Istanbul University and the University of Chicago represented a pioneering stage for the development of Neolithic Period research in Turkey.

As the excavations progressed and researchers from different countries and fields of expertise joined the project, Çayönü transformed into an interdisciplinary research field from its earliest stages. Alongside archaeologists, architects, archaeozoologists, archaeobotanists, and scientists from various other disciplines became an integral part of the investigations.

The excavations conducted during this period established the primary framework of Çayönü's long and complex stratigraphy. The settlement's distinct architectural phases were defined; the architectural transformation extending from round-plan structures to rectangular-plan buildings was traced, and shifts in how Neolithic communities organized and utilized space were revealed.

At the same time, core transformations of the Neolithic Period—such as the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, the changing role of plants and animals in human life, the working of native copper, and innovations in production technologies—began to be evaluated and debated through the findings at Çayönü. Consequently, Çayönü evolved beyond an excavation merely uncovering the past of a single site, becoming one of the principal reference grounds for understanding the formation and development processes of the Neolithic way of life.

In the mid-1980s, a new era began in Çayönü research. In 1985, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan assumed management responsibilities as deputy excavation director, and in 1987, he took over as the excavation director of Çayönü Tepesi.

During this period, emphasis was placed on the systematic evaluation of the extensive archaeological data uncovered in previous years, a more detailed definition of stratigraphic relationships, and the dissemination of excavation results to the scientific community. Çayönü's architectural development, settlement layout, and process of cultural change were addressed within a more holistic framework.

One of the key aspects of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan's era was that data from Çayönü were evaluated not only at the settlement scale, but also within the broader questions of the Neolithization process in Southeastern Anatolia and the Near East. Consequently, Çayönü's relations with surrounding regions and its role in the formation of the Neolithic way of life began to be discussed more comprehensively.

During the same period, a significant step was also taken toward preserving the archaeological heritage and bringing it to the public. The Open-Air Museum Project was launched in 1989, aiming to preserve the excavated architectural remains in situ and present them to visitors. Although the project could not be fully completed with all its components due to the conditions of the period, this initiative was important as one of the first comprehensive approaches to address conservation, exhibition, and visitor experience together at Çayönü.

By 1992, systematic archaeological excavations had to be halted due to security issues in the region. Nevertheless, Çayönü's scientific journey did not end. The vast body of data gathered from the excavations became the subject of numerous scientific publications and graduate research studies in the following years, and the settlement continued to maintain its decisive position in Neolithic Period studies.

Following a long hiatus, systematic archaeological research at Çayönü Tepesi resumed in 2015 under the directorship of Prof. Dr. Aslı Erim-Özdoğan.

This new era brought both the re-evaluation of the vast scientific knowledge inherited from previous periods and the integration of contemporary archaeological methods into Çayönü research. Re-documenting previously excavated areas, evaluating stratigraphic issues, and investigating unanswered questions regarding different periods of the settlement through targeted excavations formed the core pillars of these efforts.

At the same time, preservation practices for architectural remains left exposed for extended periods were revisited, and work was undertaken to advance the open-air museum approach initiated in earlier years.

One of the major research themes of this era was a more detailed examination of Çayönü's post-Neolithic occupation. Through these studies, the Early Bronze Age cultural deposits of the settlement began to be systematically excavated. Consequently, a new field of research was opened to evaluate Çayönü not only in terms of the Neolithic Period, but also with regard to its occupational history in later periods.

In 2024, the directorship of the Çayönü Tepesi Excavation and Research Project was taken over by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Sarıaltun, marking the start of a new era in the settlement's long research history.

While preserving the scientific knowledge accumulated over more than sixty years of Çayönü research tradition, this period represents a comprehensive process in which the project is restructured in terms of research methodologies, digital documentation, conservation, and cultural heritage management.

Together with a reconstituted scientific committee and an expanded team of specialists, archaeology is addressed in an integrated manner with diverse disciplines—primarily architecture, anthropology, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, metallurgy, geology, geophysics, geography, climatology, restoration, and cultural heritage studies. Thus, the objective is not only to uncover Çayönü's archaeological record through excavations, but also to re-evaluate it through scientific analyses across various scales.

The core research approach of the new era consists of combining problem-oriented archaeological excavations with advanced documentation and analysis techniques. Geophysical surveys, photogrammetric documentation, 3D modeling and reconstruction, and archaeometric analyses are among the key components of research aimed at understanding Çayönü's past in a more detailed and holistic manner.

Furthermore, the new era does not focus solely on archaeological research. Excavation, conservation, site management, education, public engagement, and sustainable cultural heritage policies are treated as complementary components. Within the framework of the "Heritage for the Future Project" carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a comprehensive process is underway toward protecting Çayönü Tepesi, rendering its scientific research sustainable, and developing its visitor infrastructure.

In this context, the primary goal is for Çayönü Tepesi to attain the status of an official Archaeological Site equipped with modern conservation and visitor facilities; in the long term, the objective is to prepare the site for the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process to safeguard its Outstanding Universal Value and enhance its international recognition.

Beginning with a field survey conducted in 1963 and continuing with the first excavations in 1964, Çayönü research possesses a robust scientific tradition spanning over sixty years today.

Starting with Halet Çambel and Robert J. Braidwood, and continuing to evolve through the eras of Mehmet Özdoğan and Aslı Erim-Özdoğan, this body of scientific knowledge is being pursued as of 2024 with new research questions, interdisciplinary methods, and contemporary cultural heritage approaches.

One of the key elements that makes Çayönü's scientific legacy unique is that the excavation directorship is maintained not merely as an institutional handover of duty, but as a scientific responsibility passed down from generation to generation among researchers trained at the site. Mehmet Özdoğan, who assumed responsibility as field manager of Çayönü Tepesi during Halet Çambel's era, later took over the excavation directorship; Aslı Erim-Özdoğan, who served as field manager during the work led by Mehmet Özdoğan, became the Excavation Director of Çayönü Tepesi in subsequent years. Similarly, Savaş Sarıaltun, who served as field manager of Çayönü Tepesi during the excavations led by Aslı Erim-Özdoğan, took over the excavation directorship in 2024. This continuity is one of the defining features that makes Çayönü not just a long-term archaeological research project, but a school of archaeology where knowledge, field experience, and scientific tradition are directly transmitted across generations.

Therefore, the excavation history of Çayönü is not merely the story of investigating an archaeological site. It is also the history of the development of prehistoric archaeology in Turkey, the convergence of diverse disciplines under the umbrella of archaeology, and a scientific tradition handed down through generations.

Bringing together the knowledge of the past with the methods of the future, the Çayönü Tepesi Excavation and Research Project continues to understand, protect, and pass on to future generations the story of this unique settlement, where one of the most critical transformations in human history unfolded.