Archaeologists discovered an ancient settlement consisting of what they describe as “luxurious” houses during excavations at Yassıtepe in Bornova district of Western Turkey’s Izmir province.

The Yassıtepe site was being investigated as an extension of excavations at Yeşilova Höyük, which is the first known prehistoric settlement in the Izmir region. According to archaeologists the top settlement is from the Trojan period. According to archaeologists long, thin metal and bronze axes and stone tools, as well as pottery discovered at the site were in line with artefacts associated with Troy. The houses were not considered individually when the settlements were being built, but that the whole space had been designed using an urban planning infrastructure on a single plane, with each house having an area of 75-80 square meters. Excavations also revealed empty spaces in front of the home foundations, which served as a type of patio for residents to sit, talk and pass the time. The pottery that was produced at the site is considered of extremely high quality. According to the researchers, the people who lived at the site stored their grains and liquids both on the ground and under the soil. They took advantage of all possibilities to make life the most convenient and comfortable for them.

(after Anadolu Agency Photo & Daily Sabah)