Höyücek Höyük
Höyücek Höyük · Hoyucek · Höyücek · Bucak Höyücek
Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic·Burdur-Antalya (Hacilar-associated)·🇹🇷 Burdur Province, Bucak basin – Lake District, Turkey
About
About Höyücek Höyük
Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic lakeside shrine-village (c.6500–5500 BCE) in Burdur Lake District, famous for 'Martyrium' burnt shrine phase with mother-goddess and leopard reliefs, and hoard of imported seal amulets/spindle whorls. Refik Duru excavations (1989–93) exposed two cultures: Early Settlement (plastered houses, dark burnished ware) and Shrine Phase (freestanding apsidal shrines with clay figurines, vessels left in situ after fire). Links Central Anatolian symbolism to Hacilar-Kuruçay.
Why it mattersEarliest shrine architecture in Lake District; goddess/leopard motif anticipates Hacilar; sealed fire destruction assemblage.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was fire ritual closure or accident?
- 02Seal amulet long-distance trade — Aegean?
Theories
- 01Shrine village model — central cult node for dispersed hamlets
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.6500 BCE Early Settlement; c.5800 BCE Shrine Phase
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic
- Culture
- Burdur-Antalya (Hacilar-associated)
- Builders
- Lake District farmers
- Purpose
- Village and pilgrimage shrine centre with figurine cult
- Abandoned
- c.5500 BCE after fire
- Rediscovered
- 1989 Duru excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1989
Istanbul University Duru begins
c.5800 BCE
Shrine Phase fire and figurine horizon
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3800° N · 30.5830° E · 860 m · 3 mapped features
Martyrium shrine (Building 3)
shrineApsidal shrine with figurine bench burnt in situ
37.3801° N · 30.5831° EEarly Settlement House C
housePlastered rectangular house with hearth
37.3799° N · 30.5829° ESeal hoard pit
depositClay stamp seals and whorls cache
37.3800° N · 30.5830° E