Oldest house model in the world found at Çayönü hill now displayed in Türkiye

A 12,000-year-old architectural model, believed to be the oldest house model ever discovered, has been unearthed at Çayönü Hill in Diyarbakır, Türkiye, and is now on public display at the Diyarbakır Museum, offering unique insights into early Neolithic urban planning principles, architectural evolution, and community organization that emerged during humanity's transition from nomadic to settled life.

Neolithic Urban Planning Principles, for this house model

The architectural models found at Çayönü provide remarkable evidence of early urban planning concepts during the Neolithic period. Unlike the traditional binary classification of ancient cities as either "planned" (orthogonal) or "unplanned" (organic), these models reveal more nuanced planning principles that predate formal grid systems. The Çayönü settlement demonstrates what archaeologists call "simple coordination" in building arrangements, where structures were positioned with deliberate spatial relationships to one another, creating primitive street-like pathways between dwellings.wikipedia+1

These early planning principles included practical considerations such as ensuring buildings didn't block one another, maintaining access routes between structures, and organizing space for both private dwellings and communal areas. The house model on display at Diyarbakır Museum reflects this emerging spatial awareness, showing how Neolithic communities were developing concepts of community organization beyond mere functional necessity. This represents a critical evolutionary step between the earliest human settlements—which evolved from nomadic encampments to small hamlets—and the later, more formalized urban planning seen in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, where principles of centralized layouts, astronomical alignments, and incorporation of natural features would become standard urban design elements.wikipedia+2

Çayönü Excavation History (1964-1991)

The excavation of Çayönü Tepesi began in 1964 as part of a joint project between the University of Chicago and the University of Istanbul, aimed at understanding the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and animal domestication. Initially led by Robert John Braidwood and Halet Çambel, the archaeological work continued for 16 seasons until 1991, when it was halted due to security concerns in the region. During this period, researchers excavated approximately 4,654 square meters of the site, revealing a settlement that flourished from circa 8,630 to 6,800 BCE.dailysabah+2

The excavation leadership transitioned to Mehmet Özdoğan after 1986, who continued the work until its suspension in 1991. After a 26-year hiatus, excavations resumed in 2017 under the direction of Aslı Erim Özdoğan. The archaeological team's meticulous work uncovered the site's complex stratigraphy, which spans multiple Neolithic phases including Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA), Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB), and Pottery Neolithic (PN)—providing crucial insights into the development of early human settlements and technological innovations.arkeonews+5

Architectural Evolution at Çayönü

The architectural development at Çayönü represents a crucial transition in human settlement patterns, evolving from simple circular structures to more complex rectangular buildings. The earliest phase featured round or rounded-corner single-room structures topped with wattle and daub constructions. This was followed by the innovative "grill-plan" buildings—characterized by parallel stone foundations approximately 15 cm high that supported elevated plastered floors, providing insulation, ventilation, and protection from moisture.arkeonews

What makes Çayönü exceptional is how it documents the complete architectural evolution throughout the Neolithic period. According to Dr. Savaş Sarıaltun, the settlement demonstrates early community planning principles where "structures were built with care and order—no house blocks another, and narrow pathways function like primitive streets". This architectural progression reflects the broader societal shift from nomadic to settled life, with Çayönü serving as one of the few sites where researchers can observe this complete developmental arc from simple huts to multi-functional rectangular houses. The seventeen miniature architectural models discovered at the site—including the world's oldest now displayed at Diyarbakır Museum—suggest these early communities were not building haphazardly but engaging in deliberate planning and design thinking.anatolianarchaeology+2