A 5,000-Year-Old Pottery Fragment With a Human Face was Discovered in Konya

Archaeologists excavating Gökhöyük, near Seydişehir in Türkiye’s Konya province, have uncovered a pottery fragment dating back about 5,000 years. What makes the find remarkable is the depiction of a human face carved onto its surface—a rare ritual object rather than an ordinary household vessel.

A Settlement Spanning 7,000 Years

Gökhöyük, first identified in the 1950s by the British archaeologist James Mellaart, resurfaced in 2002 during construction works when ancient remains were accidentally revealed. After rescue excavations carried out by the Konya Museum, systematic digs resumed in 2023 under the direction of Associate Professor Ramazan Gündüz from Selçuk University.

The mound reveals uninterrupted habitation from around 7000 BCE to the Iron Age, making it one of the most significant prehistoric settlements in Central Anatolia.

Human-Faced Vessel Used in Rituals

According to Gündüz, the fragment represents more than just a container:

“The piece shows carefully modeled eyebrows, a nose, and almond-shaped eyes. Such depictions are common in Early Bronze Age Western Anatolia but extremely rare in Central Anatolia. It is certain that the vessel had a ritual function beyond daily use.”

Preliminary observations suggest the artifact is approximately 5,000 years old. Radiocarbon dating at Selçuk University will provide a more precise chronology.

Tools, Figurines, and Daily Life Objects

Other discoveries include animal figurines, seals, obsidian arrowheads, and small stone axes. These artifacts shed light on the community’s hunting practices, craft production, and everyday life during the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

Toward a Major Archaeological Center

Gökhöyük stands out as the only settlement in the Konya Plain where cultural layers from the Neolithic through the Iron Age can be studied together. Researchers expect it to become a key site for Anatolian prehistoric archaeology in the coming years.