Catal Hüyük is one of the oldest cities on earth. The settlement existed from about 7250 BC till about 5600 BC. It is located in the central part of Turkey and was discovered bt accident by local farmers in 1958. Catal Hüyük is on a hill in the midst of fertile lowlands about 140 km from the huge volcano Hasan Dağ. In this settlement of 600 x 350 m on average 5000 – 8000 people lived, the houses made of sun-dried stones. The were no streets; the houses were built one against the other. The only entrance was from above. In course of time, deteriorating houses were broken down and on top of the layer of rubble new houses were erected. In this way, the 13-layer mount as we see it now in the landscape arose.

Catal Hüyük has been built according to a predestined plan. The larger rooms were plastered with white chalk and used for living; the smaller ones were stores. There were no buildings for governing or other public duties. It is a great mystery why the entrance to the houses were only on the roof of the houses.