'Breakthrough Discovery' Made at World-Famous Archaeological Site 

A “breakthrough discovery” at the famed archaeological site of Kultepe, in Turkey, has revealed a community of private homes which remained concealed during decades of work, Turkey Today reported.

77 Years of Excavation

Kultepe, with a history extending back over 6,000 years, is known as the origin of Anatolian history. This excavation, having begun in 1948, is one of the country’s longest-running archaeological endeavors. The relatively small homes unearthed from the main mound predate the emigration of Assyrian businessmen into the community, which contests previous beliefs that only palatial residences stood in Kultepe during that time.

"This shows Kultepe has been a major center not only during the Assyrian merchants' time but long before, from around 6,000 years ago," explained Fikri Kulakoglu, who led the excavation. Kulakoglu called the discovery "a new event" for his team. The more modest private residences display a more advanced urban planning than other areas in the same settlement, which could indicate a social hierarchy amongst residents. Researchers believe it’s most likely that the homes belonged to town administrators, craftsmen, and other respected professionals who worked erecting the monuments for which Kultepe is largely known.

Further Excavations to Be Conducted Inside Homes

Researchers say the houses reveal much more about the community’s rituals and daily lives than was previously recorded. The comingling of monumental residences with smaller dwellings suggests a much more intricate social chain than was thought to exist during this period. Further excavations into the homes themselves will hopefully reveal more details about Anatolians’ daily rituals, social hierarchies, and economic practices at one of the country’s most prominent historical sites.