The history of Turkey is first and foremost the history of Anatolia, long and rich in civilizations.
It is in Anatolia that men, emerging from prehistory, organized themselves and developed, founding urban settlements which are among the first in the world, thanks to favourable climatic conditions that enabled the start of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Cradle and land of welcome of so many civilizations, Anatolia has grown richer through its various populations.
 




PREHISTORY






600000 – 8000 BC – THE PALEOLITHIC PERIOD – STONE AGE

The most important evidences of the Paleolithic period in Anatolia can be found in Yarimburgaz near Istanbul, and in Karain near Antalya. Karain is the only cave known in Anatolia where all the phases of Paleolithic are represented without interruption, and that also contains a number of habitation levels. The skull of a Neanderthal child and the skull and skeleton of Homo Sapiens from the Upper Paleolithic have been unearthed in this cave. Teeth and parts of skeleton of all types of animals which lived at stone age and are now mostly extinct, as well as fossilized plants have been also excavated.

Bones from Karain Caves
Archaeological Museum of Antalya


7000 BC – THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD – NEW STONE AGE -THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS
The inhabitants of Anatolia start agriculture and animal husbandry. They domesticate wild animals living on their lands (ovine, bovine and caprine races). They learn to cultivate wild wheat and barley, to store the products of their crops. They settle and gather into villages. This is the first civilization.

Çatalhöyük, in the south of Konya, is the best-known cultural centre in Anatolia and dates back to 6750 BC.

Çatalhöyük – Seated Goddess,
baked clay 1st half 6 millenium BC.


5500 BC – 3000 BC – CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD – COPPER AGE
Social life develops and personal ornaments and religious beliefs are expressed in sculpture and painting (Hacilar, Canhasan, Beysultan). Copper is the first metal worked by man. He also trades for the raw material to manufacture weapons and implements. Progresses in fortification show the concern of the villagers to defend themselves against invaders, which will be their main fear all along Anatolian history.

Canhasan – Baked clay
1st half of 5th millenium BC