![In Mersin, Turkey -years of excavation have paid off... 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406071-scaled.jpg?fit=1198%2C800&ssl=1)
![The excavation continues, with the archaeologists hoping to find more insight into ancient ancestors... 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406090.jpg?w=458&h=258&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
The excavation continues, with the archaeologists hoping to find more insight into ancient ancestors… 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![Parts of a big pot being carefully reconstructed. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406089.jpg?w=344&h=258&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
Parts of a big pot being carefully reconstructed. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![That's a big tea cup! 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406088.jpg?w=386&h=258&ssl=1 "2018-10-25 exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406088")
That’s a big tea cup! 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![They uncovered an ancient seal, and continued digging to uncover an entire site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406086.jpg?w=797&h=531&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
They uncovered an ancient seal, and continued digging to uncover an entire site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![Here is a pot excavated from the site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406085.jpg?w=395&h=263&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
Here is a pot excavated from the site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
And they think that some of it was built as far back as 7000BC! 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![The site dates back to a whopping 9000 years ago! 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406078.jpg?w=296&h=198&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
The site dates back to a whopping 9000 years ago! 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![The site sits up high in the trees. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406076.jpg?w=296&h=198&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
The site sits up high in the trees. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![Archaeologists have been painstakingly excavating this site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406072.jpg?w=296&h=198&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
Archaeologists have been painstakingly excavating this site. 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]
![In Mersin, Turkey -years of excavation have paid off... 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-25-exacavation20181025_2_33073810_38406071-scaled.jpg?w=296&h=198&ssl=1 "تركيا.. العثور على ختم يعود لحوالي 9 آلاف عام")
In Mersin, Turkey -years of excavation have paid off… 25 October 2018, Mersin [Mustafa Güngör/Anadolu Agency]