4,500-year-old human-shaped idols discovered around a hearth at Tavşanlı Höyük in western Turkey. Credit: Mehmet Nuri Ersoy / Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a rare collection of idols at Tavşanlı Höyük, one of the largest Bronze Age settlements in western Anatolia. The discovery, announced by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, includes 4,500-year-old human-shaped idols made of marble, bone, and terracotta.
Researchers say the finds provide valuable insight into the rituals and daily life of Bronze Age communities in the region.
A settlement of strategic importance
Tavşanlı Höyük, in Kütahya province, is considered a key archaeological site in western Anatolia. The mound grew over centuries of continuous habitation and is thought to have flourished around 2500 BCE during the Early Bronze Age.
Its position gave it strategic importance, connecting inland Anatolia with trade routes that extended to the Aegean, linking it with early Greek communities in the Cyclades and beyond.
Rituals around the hearth
This season’s excavations revealed one of the site’s most striking discoveries: seven human-shaped idols placed side by side around a hearth. Archaeologists say the arrangement was deliberate and reflects ritual practices rather than coincidence.
The hearth symbolized warmth, sustenance, and protection in Bronze Age society. It also served as a sacred space where families gathered, ceremonies were performed, and offerings were made to the gods.
Batı Anadolu’nun en büyük Tunç Çağı merkezlerinden Tavşanlı Höyük’te bu yıl çok önemli keşiflere imza atıldı.
🔹 Günümüzden 4 bin 500 yıl öncesine tarihlenen mermer, kemik ve pişmiş topraktan yapılmış idoller ortaya çıkarıldı.
🔹 Ocak etrafında yan yana bulunan 7 insan biçimli… pic.twitter.com/wt5BiHZj2f
— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) September 15, 2025
The placement of the idols suggests they represented ancestors, protective spirits, or deities invoked during ceremonies. Scholars believe their positioning highlights a symbolic link between fire as a life-giving force and the spiritual presence embodied in the figures.
Rare evidence of ritual life
Figurines are common in prehistoric contexts, but a cluster associated with a hearth is unusual in Anatolian archaeology. Researchers say the discovery provides direct evidence of ritual activity within a domestic setting, showing that everyday spaces could also serve as places of worship.
The discovery also points to Tavşanlı Höyük’s role in a broader cultural network. Around the same time, early Greek societies in the Cyclades and Crete were producing marble figurines with ritual significance. While the Anatolian idols differ in form and context, both traditions reveal how communities across the Aegean sought to blend the sacred with the everyday.
Craftsmanship and daily life
Excavations also uncovered unfinished ceramic vessels. These pieces shed light on Bronze Age craftsmanship, revealing how clay was shaped, fired, and prepared for use. The combination of ritual artifacts and workshop remains underscores the close connection between spiritual practices and economic life.
Archaeologists suggest Tavşanlı Höyük functioned as both a cultural and religious center as well as a hub of skilled production.
Official reaction and future work
Minister Ersoy called the findings a milestone in understanding Anatolia’s past. He explained that the idols and ceramics offer rare clues into the religious rituals, cultural life, and economic activities of Bronze Age Anatolia. Although excavations are still limited to small areas, they are already providing invaluable knowledge about the past.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said excavations will continue until mid-December. Archaeologists expect further work will reveal more about the site’s urban layout, cultural practices, and regional ties.
