An Aceramic Neolithic settlement mound on the Melendiz stream, among the oldest known villages in Central Anatolia. Excavations have revealed roof-entered mudbrick houses, early animal domestication, and what is claimed as the earliest known trepanned human skull, with a protective shelter and signage for visitors.
Asıklı Höyük is a Neolithic settlement mound on the right bank of the Melendiz stream, near the village of Kızılkaya in the Gülağaç district of Aksaray province, approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Aksaray city. It is one of the oldest known permanently occupied villages in Central Anatolia, with continuous habitation documented by radiocarbon dating from approximately 8350 to 7300 BC — a span of more than a thousand years that predates the introduction of pottery in the region.
The site was first investigated by İ. Kılıç Kökten in the 1960s and subjected to systematic scientific excavation under Ufuk Esin from 1989. Subsequent campaigns, currently led by Mihriban Özbaşaran of Istanbul University, have revealed a densely planned settlement of flat-roofed mudbrick houses entered from the roof rather than through ground-level doors — an architectural arrangement closely paralleled at the contemporary site of Çatalhöyük, approximately 150 kilometres to the southwest.
Among the most significant finds is a human skull exhibiting a healed trepanation: a surgical hole made in the cranium while the individual was alive, which subsequently partially closed as the person survived and recovered. The skull is argued to be the earliest known case of successful neurosurgical intervention in the world, dated to approximately 7000 BC, and is displayed at the Aksaray Museum in the city centre. The site has also produced evidence of early animal management — sheep and goat bone assemblages suggesting proto-domestication predating full domestication in the region.
A protective shelter constructed over part of the excavation allows visitors to view exposed mudbrick walls and floor deposits directly. Bilingual (Turkish and English) information boards describe the site's chronology, the trepanation discovery, and the Neolithic building techniques in use. The site is open-access and free of charge; visitors are asked to stay on marked paths to avoid disturbing unexcavated deposits.
Why it matters
Asıklı Höyük is one of the oldest permanently occupied villages in Central Anatolia (c. 8350–7300 BC) and the find site of what is argued to be the world's earliest known successfully trepanned human skull, placing this Aksaray province mound among the most significant Neolithic sites in the Near East.
Location
Kizilkaya, 68300 Gulagac/Aksaray, Turkiye
38.3489, 34.2300 View on map
Highlights
- One of Central Anatolia's earliest permanent settlements, continuously occupied from c. 8350 BC
- Protective shelter over exposed Neolithic mudbrick walls allowing direct viewing of 10,000-year-old architecture
- Discovery site of what is argued to be the world's earliest known successful neurosurgical trepanation
- Evidence of early proto-domestication of sheep and goats, predating regional full domestication
- Atmospheric Melendiz stream valley setting surrounded by Cappadocian volcanic landscape
Tips for visiting
- The trepanned skull is not on site — visit the Aksaray Museum to see it displayed with full clinical context
- Wear sturdy shoes; the path from the road to the shelter crosses uneven ground and dry stream channels
- Visit in spring (April–May) when the surrounding Melendiz valley is green and the site is at its most photogenic
- Stay on the marked paths at all times; active excavation areas may be cordoned off during seasonal fieldwork
- Combine the site visit with the Aksaray Museum on the same day for a complete Neolithic experience
Frequently asked questions
Are there English information panels at the site?
Bilingual Turkish and English interpretation boards are placed around the protective shelter and along the approach path, providing accessible background for international visitors without a guide.
How long does a visit take?
A self-guided visit to the open-air site takes 30–45 minutes. Pairing it with the Aksaray Museum, which houses finds from the excavation, adds another 1.5–2 hours for a full half-day thematic experience.
Can the site be visited without a specialist guide?
Yes. The site is open access and free of charge, and the on-site signage is sufficient for a self-guided visit. A specialist in Neolithic Anatolia can add considerable interpretive depth but is not essential.