Nevalı Çori Archaeological Site

Neolithic archaeological site with early communal structures

A Pre‑Pottery Neolithic site in Adıyaman Province excavated in the 1980s; rescue archaeology recovered carved stone pillars and artefacts now kept in museums after reservoir flooding.

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Nevalı Çori at a Glance#

Address: Nevalı Çori (site, Adıyaman Province) - site largely inundated by the Atatürk Dam reservoir; not an accessible visitor site

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About Nevalı Çori#

Nevalı Çori was an early Neolithic site in southeastern Turkey known for its early monumental architecture and carved stone sculpture. The settlement dates to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period and produced evidence of communal buildings and ritual objects.

Archaeological excavations conducted in the 1980s revealed rectangular buildings, stone pillars with human and animal motifs and a range of portable artifacts that have been important for understanding early village life and ritual in the Fertile Crescent. The site was later inundated when the surrounding valley was flooded during dam construction, and many finds are now held in museum collections.

Geographically the site lay in Adıyaman Province in southeastern Turkey, within the upper Euphrates river basin prior to flooding.

  • Archaeological significance: An early Neolithic settlement notable for its carved stone pillars, anthropomorphic figurines and early ceremonial architecture dating to the 10th-9th millennium BCE.
  • Excavation and fate: Extensively excavated in the 1980s and later submerged when the local river valley was flooded for a reservoir project.

Best Time to Visit Nevalı Çori#

Plan visits to Nevalı Çori in spring or autumn for the most comfortable temperatures and better conditions for exploring the archaeological remains.

Spring
Mar-May · 10-25°C
Mild, pleasant weather makes spring the best time to visit Nevalı Çori's archaeological area and nearby sites.
Summer
Jun-Aug · 25-38°C
Hot and dry conditions-outdoor archaeological remains can be uncomfortable to visit in the heat and mid-day should be avoided.
Autumn
Sep-Nov · 12-26°C
Cooler temperatures and clearer skies provide another good window for visiting archaeological sites in Adıyaman Province.

Weather & Climate near Nevalı Çori#

Climate

Nevalı Çori's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 35°C. Moderate rainfall (515 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 79 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustSeptember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
46°
Warmest Month
-15°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 2° - 8° 4° 87 mm partly cloudy 74% 1.8 m/s 0.3 low 9.8h
February Acceptable 3° - 10° 5° 73 mm partly cloudy 73% 2.0 m/s 0.5 low 10.7h
March Good 6° - 14° 9° 72 mm partly cloudy 67% 2.3 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.8h
April Very Good 11° - 20° 15° 53 mm partly cloudy 61% 2.4 m/s 1.4 high 13.0h
May Excellent 15° - 25° 20° 34 mm some cloud 51% 2.4 m/s 1.8 very high 14.0h
June Ideal 20° - 31° 26° 6 mm clear 34% 3.0 m/s 2.4 extreme 14.5h
July Ideal 24° - 35° 29° 1 mm clear 26% 3.2 m/s 2.5 extreme 14.3h
August Ideal 23° - 35° 29° 1 mm clear 27% 2.7 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.4h
September Ideal 20° - 31° 25° 3 mm clear 30% 2.1 m/s 1.5 very high 12.3h
October Excellent 15° - 24° 19° 34 mm mostly sunny 42% 1.6 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.1h
November Very Good 9° - 17° 13° 55 mm some cloud 58% 1.4 m/s 0.4 low 10.0h
December Acceptable 4° - 11° 7° 96 mm partly cloudy 70% 1.6 m/s 0.3 low 9.5h