Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered four headless female figurines dating back about 8,000 years, a discovery that is offering new insight into ritual practices among some of Anatolia’s earliest farming communities.
The terracotta figurines were found at Kanlıtaş mound near the Inönü district of Eskişehir in northwestern Turkey. Excavations at the site have been conducted since 2013 under the direction of Anadolu University.
Kanlıtaş is considered one of the earliest known settlements in the region spanning modern-day Eskişehir, Afyonkarahisar, and Kütahya. Researchers say the site provides important evidence about daily life, settlement patterns, and cultural traditions during the Neolithic period.
Figurines discovered inside ancient structures
Professor Ali Umut Türkcan, who leads the excavation team and teaches archaeology at Anadolu University, said the figurines were uncovered within fill layers at the bases of rectangular buildings.
Researchers determined that the artifacts belong to the final phase of the Neolithic period. All four figurines depict women. The largest measures about 12 to 13 centimeters (5 inches) in length, while the others are approximately 5 to 6 centimeters long.
Although female figurines are common at Neolithic sites across Anatolia, the Kanlıtaş examples stand out because of their condition and context. Several were found with their heads intentionally broken off.
Eskişehir’in İnönü ilçesindeki Kanlıtaş Höyüğü’nde bulunan 8 bin yıllık 4 başsız figürün Neolitik dönem yapı ritüellerinde kullanıldığı tespit edildi. pic.twitter.com/MkBkOCI6Wt
— Punto360 (@punto360tr) June 9, 2026
“The presence of headless or broken-headed female figurines in spaces that appear to have been intentionally sealed suggests they may have been left as offerings during the closure of structures,” Türkcan said.
Researchers believe the figurines were deliberately deposited when buildings were abandoned or taken out of use. Similar practices have been identified at other Neolithic settlements, including Çatalhöyük in central Turkey, one of the world’s most extensively studied prehistoric sites.
Distinctive features set the figurines apart
The Kanlıtaş figurines also display characteristics that distinguish them from many other Neolithic figurines found in Turkey.
Türkcan noted that the figures place unusual emphasis on the hip area. This stylistic feature resembles female figurines discovered in parts of the Balkans, particularly regions once associated with the Neolithic Vinca culture.
The similarity suggests that communities living in different parts of southeastern Europe and Anatolia may have shared artistic traditions or symbolic ideas during the Neolithic era.
Discovery may strengthen evidence of cultural links
Researchers also pointed to possible connections between Kanlıtaş and the broader Porsuk cultural sphere of western central Anatolia. Archaeologists have long debated links between the Porsuk culture and Neolithic communities in the Balkans.
According to Türkcan, radiocarbon dating results indicate that the Porsuk culture may predate some neighboring cultural traditions. The findings could help explain how cultural influences spread between Anatolia and southeastern Europe thousands of years ago.
The discovery adds to growing evidence that Neolithic communities maintained complex social and symbolic traditions. The figurines not only provide clues about ritual behavior but may also help researchers better understand cultural interactions across a wide region.
The excavation team plans to publish the findings in a comprehensive scientific monograph and reference volume in the coming years. Further research may reveal more about the role these Neolithic figurines played in the beliefs and practices of early communities in Turkey.
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