Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable architectural findings from early agricultural communities in the Aegean, discovered at the Uğurlu-Zeytinlik Mound on Gökçeada, Türkiye's westernmost Aegean island. This significant site, dating back approximately 8,800 years (circa 6800 BC), now stands as a pivotal location in Aegean archaeology, drawing parallels with Knossos in Crete as a foundational settlement of early farming societies.
The excavation, led by Professor Dr. Burçin Erdoğu, has revealed a unique architectural style previously unseen in Aegean settlements. The findings include five domestic structures characterized by circular layouts with sunken floors, constructed using a distinctive 'plaiting and pole' (wattle-and-daub) decorative technique. This discovery provides the earliest recorded agricultural architecture in the Aegean Islands, transforming theoretical understanding of Neolithic farmers into tangible reality.
Prior to these findings, the architectural methods and settlement organization of the first inhabitants of the Aegean remained largely unknown. Uğurlu has now provided the first concrete evidence of Neolithic farmers' permanent settlement and organized community life, signifying the clearest indication of these practices. While evidence of agricultural practices like crop cultivation and animal husbandry had been noted in the region, the architecture signifies a crucial step in understanding their way of life.
Further analysis of bone fragments and pottery originating from Anatolia and the Balkans confirms that these early inhabitants engaged in exchange networks with distant regions nearly nine millennia ago, suggesting that Uğurlu was a vibrant hub of innovation and interaction during the Neolithic Period. Botanical evidence reveals domesticated crops such as wheat, barley, and peas, brought from mainland Anatolia, while animal bones confirm the presence of sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs.
For many years, Knossos held the distinction of being the sole recognized agricultural settlement in the Aegean. The discoveries on Gökçeada, however, introduce a second, equally ancient site belonging to the initial wave of Neolithic-agricultural communities. This positions Uğurlu-Zeytinlik as a crucial settlement in the Aegean's Neolithic history, acting as a vital link between Anatolia and the Aegean islands, and prompting a re-evaluation of agricultural development across the region.
The unearthed circular, sunken, clay-based houses at Uğurlu offer an intimate glimpse into the lives, work, and connections of the first inhabitants. Alongside Knossos, Uğurlu is instrumental in rewriting the early chapters of Aegean history, firmly establishing Gökçeada as a cornerstone in the narrative of humanity's earliest agricultural communities.