A recently unearthed red-floored building dating back 9,500 years is offering rare insight into the ceremonial and communal life of some of the world’s first farmers.
Discovered at the Neolithic site of Çayönü Tepesi in southeastern Turkey, the structure sheds light on how early agricultural communities created and preserved shared ritual spaces during the shift from nomadic life to permanent settlement.
Communal space offers a rare view into early rituals
The building is unlike domestic dwellings found elsewhere at the site. Its large scale and distinct red-painted floor suggest an early form of shared social space. Excavation director Assoc. Prof. Savaş Sarıaltun of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University said the structure likely played a central role in community life.
“This structure is different from private dwellings,” Sarıaltun said. “It represents a space shared by the entire community, which makes it one of the most valuable discoveries at Çayönü.”
Red pigment has been used for over 150 years
Dated to between 7600 and 7500 BCE, the building was uncovered in a 900-square-meter area on the eastern side of the mound. Archaeologists found that the red-painted floor had been carefully maintained and repainted at least four times over a period of 150 to 200 years.
📍 Diyarbakır’ın Ergani ilçesindeki Çayönü Tepesi’nin doğusunda yürütülen arkeolojik kazıda, yaklaşık 9500 yıllık “Kamusal Yapı” bulundu.
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Çanakkale Uygulamalı Bilimler Fakültesi Müzecilik Bölümü Öğretim Üyesi ve Kazı Başkanı Doç. Dr. Savaş… pic.twitter.com/bSFKzHlfLU
— arkeolojihaber ® (@arkeolojihaber) September 8, 2025
Researchers believe the red pigment was made from naturally sourced ochre or iron-rich clay gathered from nearby mountains. The repeated application of color was not purely decorative—archaeologists say it points to symbolic meaning, possibly connected to ritual activity and communal identity.
Site located near other ceremonial structures
The building stands close to the Terrazzo Building, another monumental structure at Çayönü known for its mosaic floor. Their proximity suggests both served ceremonial or symbolic functions within the settlement, highlighting the importance of organized communal life during the Neolithic period.
Çayönü continues to shape Neolithic research
Çayönü Tepesi is one of the earliest known permanent settlements, dating back more than 12,000 years. Located in Upper Mesopotamia, the site is considered a key location in the Neolithic Revolution—the global shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture and village life.
Since excavations began in 1964, archaeologists have uncovered milestones in early human development, including the domestication of animals, the cultivation of cereals, and the first known copper working.
Diyarbakır’ın Ergani ilçesindeki 12 bin yıllık Çayönü Tepesi’nde yürütülen kazılarda, 9 bin 500 yıllık kamusal yapı gün yüzüne çıkarıldı. Boyalı tabanıyla dikkat çeken yapı, Neolitik dönemde ortak kullanım alanı olarak hizmet vermiş olabilir
— Odatv (@odatv) September 7, 2025
New find strengthens UNESCO case
Recognized as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status, Çayönü continues to offer vital clues about the social, technological, and spiritual evolution of early human societies.
The discovery of the red-floored public building adds a new dimension; it also reflects how early farmers not only built physical structures, but also developed complex cultural practices to sustain shared identity and ritual life.
