“House of the Dead” Unearthed at Çatalhöyük: Remains of 20 Individuals Discovered

Archaeologists working at Çatalhöyük, one of the world’s most significant Neolithic settlements in central Türkiye, have uncovered a striking new discovery. Excavations in the eastern sector of the site, led by Prof. Dr. Arkadiusz Marciniak of the Institute of Prehistory at Poznań University in Poland, revealed clusters of buildings arranged around a courtyard — many of which appear to have had no domestic function.

According to Marciniak, the most remarkable find is a structure dubbed the “House of the Dead” or “Spiritual House,” where the remains of 20 individuals were deliberately placed beneath the floor. Researchers believe these people died elsewhere and were brought here for ritual deposition, suggesting that the building served as a ceremonial mortuary space rather than a dwelling.

Excavators also identified a large ritual structure with painted walls and 14 platforms, which is scheduled for further excavation next year. In addition, a smaller but carefully plastered and long-inhabited building, not used for everyday activities, has been uncovered. One of the oldest structures in the eastern settlement revealed three burials beneath its platforms, though radiocarbon dating is still needed to determine its exact age.

Çatalhöyük: A Witness to the Transition from Hunter-Gatherers to Farming

Founded around 9,000 years ago, Çatalhöyük is considered a key site for understanding humanity’s transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming communities. At its height, the settlement may have housed up to 8,000 people, making it one of the earliest known urban centers.

Houses at Çatalhöyük were more than places of shelter: they served as sacred spaces where rituals, burials, and communal ceremonies were performed. The tradition of burying the dead beneath house floors and decorating walls with symbolic paintings reflects the deep integration of spiritual life into everyday existence.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, Çatalhöyük continues to reshape our understanding of early urbanism, social organization, and the origins of human belief systems.