Külhöyük site yields 66-million-year-old fossil in Ankara

A 66-million-year-old Gastropoda fossil has been discovered during excavations at Külhöyük in the Gölbaşı district of Ankara, Turkey. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the find, noting that the fossil belongs to a gastropod, a type of marine snail-like creature, that lived along the shores of the Tethys Sea.

The discovery provides insight into the geological history of Central Anatolia, suggesting the region was once part of the Tethys Sea during its final stages. Researchers noted a unique archaeological aspect: the fossil was found within a 5,000-year-old Hattian and Hittite settlement. This suggests that ancient inhabitants may have discovered the fossil and transported it to their living area thousands of years ago.

The excavations at Külhöyük have been conducted under the Presidential Determined Excavation status since 2021, led by Associate Professor Dr. Derya Yılmaz Tekin on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ankara University.