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Yapı Kredi has been supporting the Çatalhöyük archaeological excavations, recognized as one of the first and foremost archeological discoveries of the Neolithic age (New Stone Age) in Anatolia, since 1997 as the main sponsor.
Çatalhöyük (Fork Mound) is named after the fact that it is a hill with two flat parts, which resembles a fork. Çatalhöyük was discovered by J. Mellaart in 1958, and a number of excavations were carried out in 1961 – 1963 and in 1965. As a result of the diggings took place at western slope of the high hill, 13 layers were revealed. It is a center shedding light on the history of humanity with authentic remains of the first settlement, first house architecture and the first sacred places. Beginning from 1996 the British Archaeology Institute continued excavations under the direction of Ian Hodder. Some of the remains are exhibited at the Konya Archeology Museum, while others are preserved in storage.
An extensive exhibition was hosted in Istanbul by Yapı Kredi Vedat Nedim Tör Museum on 26 May – 30 September 2006 within the scope of the project so that the excavation works and the remains could be reached much wider masses. The exhibition was visited by more than 40,000 people. A 197 pages book/catalogue, incorporating originals, reproductions or drawings of clay, stone or bone remains such as human skeleton, stamp seal, obsidian tool, pottery and clay balls in addition to photographs and illustrations showing and depicting the mound, was prepared especially for this exhibition.
Excavation works were continued in 2010 at Çatalhöyük, a candidate for the list of the World Cultural Heritage. A team of 120 people coming for excavations from countries such as England, the USA, France, Canada, Serbia, Australia and Poland found significant remains during the digging took place from June to September.
Çatalhöyük excavations are currently carried out from June to September 2011.
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