New Neolithic cult centres and domestic settlements in the light of Urfa Region Surveys

Abstract

The present study concerns Neolithic period cult centres and settlements discovered recently during surface surveys in the central district of Urfa (Şanliurfa) region in south-eastern Turkey. The presence of T-shaped pillars was ascertained at Ayanlar Höyük and Kurt Tepesi cult sites. Other settlements are domestic settlements arranged around cult centre settlements. Some sites belong to Pre Pottery Neolithic, and the others to Pottery Neolithic. They are believed to be coeval with Göbekli Tepe and Nevali Çori cult sites.