Batalhöyük

Story

Batalhöyük, this ancient settlement located near the Şahinbey district of Gaziantep, is a unique example of the era in which Anatolia built civilizations upon civilizations. The settlement, in the form of an earthen mound, carries the layers of human habitation founded one after another over thousands of years. The stone foundations, potsherds, and architectural remains brought to light by excavators convey to us the historical fabric of the Bronze Age and later periods. The most interesting aspect of Batalhöyük is that one can clearly see how mounds form, with each civilization built upon the one before, proving just how old the value placed on this geography truly is. While touring the site, walking under the guidance of a local archaeology guide and trying to distinguish the different periods by examining the various cross-sections of the mound is invaluable for gaining a deep understanding of Anatolian history.