The "oldest bread in the world"
found in Kurdistan, 8600 year old yeast
By Mehdî Kakeyî
Archaeologists have announced the discovery of the world’s oldest known bakery, dating back to 6600 B.C., at a Modern Stone Age archaeological site, according to CNN
A largely "destroyed" oven structure has been found in an area called "Mekan 66", where houses adjacent to some milk bricks are at the (Chattalhuyuk) archaeological site in Konia province in northern Kurdistan, where scientists found around the oven wheat, barley, pea seeds and hand-sized "sponge" round remains.
An analysis of organic residues found it was 8,600-year-old uncooked, fermented bread that ranks as the “oldest bread in the world.” Yeast is a smaller version of a loaf of bread, when the yeast, which has not been baked, has a finger pressed in the middle, fermented and remains to this day with toasts in it. There is no such thing as it yet.
The wood and the bread were preserved thanks to the thin clay that covered the vessel it was placed in, where flour and water were mixed, and the bread was prepared next to the oven and preserved for a while.
(Chattalhoyuk), is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was home to about 8,000 people during the Modern Stone Age, and one of the world's earliest preparation sites.
The city is located on the border of "Chumra" of the governorate of (Konia) in central Anatolia. The city appears in the shape of a dirt hill taking the shape of a level summit.
Chattalhuiok was discovered in 1958 by the world (c. Millart), and many excavations drowned in it. Research conducted at the well-preserved site has revealed several housing schemes and landmarks, such as murals and patterns, making it considered "the most important human settlement documenting the early stable agricultural life of modern Stone Age society," according to the UNESCO website.
Chatalhuyuk: the cradle of civilization
Chattalhoyouk is one of the oldest settlements in the Modern Stone Age, where it has been able to answer and provoke questions about human history. Chatalhuyuk is located in Konya Province in northern Kurdistan, one of the most important ancient sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012.
Although Chattalhuiok is neither the largest nor the oldest site of human settlement. It holds core value as it is one of the primary signs of a transition from the hunting-and-forging lifestyle to a more sustainable plant-based lifestyle. The history of Chattalhuiok depends on the transformation of mankind, from nomads to settlers. The Chattalhoyuk Archaeological Site is open to anyone worldwide who would like to take a look at this magnificent settlement that had almost 10,000 people, dating back 9000 years.
The site was first excavated by English archaeologist (James Millart) in 1958. Later, his team worked at the site until 1965, revealing 18 consecutive floors of human settlements. However, the advancement in Millart's studies has ended with her affairs with (Durak Scondal). In 1993, the Cambridge University leadership began carrying out more investigations at the site again. As of today, excavations and research around Chattalhoyuk are still carried out by various universities in both Kurdistan and around the world.
Chattalhoyuk buildings have gathered with no various public buildings serving any public etiquette. Nearly all buildings are built in the same way and size, except for some buildings with large rooms and walls. Chattalhoyouk was able to accommodate a maximum of 10,000 people but its average population was between 5000 and 7500.
The complex is composed of two objects held together with strength. Since there were no streets in the settlement, the houses were accessed through doors and doors. Ladders and ladders have been used in every home to reach the roofs of the houses, also allowing access to each other. Nearly every residence had a spare room for storage, cooking stations, wood decorations, and crafting stations.
Archaeologists were able to identify small amounts of trash inside buildings, and sign clean environment records in this community. There was a large amount of food waste, and garbage piles on the outer parts of the settlement, indicating the importance of cleanliness in the Chattalhuiok settlement.
Community in Chattalhuiok
Human remains have been found in underground holes and chimneys used for cooking in this settlement, which are believed to be part of their ritual. Usually the dead bodies were placed in small baskets and damaged with sheets or mats. Some researchers inside the archaeological sites have admitted that most of the bodies were exposed to the open air before burial.
While there were tablets or ball objects stuffed in women's graves, stone axes were found inside men. This is a sign that the people who lived inside the Cataluyuk copied, lived with a common faith and participated in the ritual.
Several murals and statues were found in internal and external walls. Female mud figures were among the most common characters on the site. Sitting women in Catalhuiok, currently on display at the Museum of Ancient Civilizations in Ankara, are one of the most famous statues in Chatalhuiok.
Importance of women in chattalhuyuk
One of the landmark features of Chattalhuiok was the common use of female statues. According to archaeologists, these female statues were seen as a deity of the higher self. These prominent female figures and signs of strength indicate that the Chattalhuiok settlement had a national system. However, most researchers argue that there is a balance of forces in relation to men and women.
Since all homes, cemeteries, and living conditions were equally screened at every site in this settlement, it's safe to assume that Chattalhuiok had an equality-based society where all people were in the same conditions with equal rights and faced the same hardships.
Thanks to this amazing information and rich content, Chatalhoyouk has been able to capture the attention of many visitors. If you have visited Konya before, be sure to visit Chattalhoyouk.
The oldest known city, "Chattalhoyuk," gives us a fascinating insight into the lives of ancient people who transitioned from the lifestyle of hunting and fruit-gathering to city builders.
The cry of the cockroach
Chatalhoyouk is located in (Jumrah) and 50 km south of Konia
We are talking about 8600 years ago, where there was only Kurdish ancestors in the region at that time and genetic analysis proves it
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2025 3:51 am