History
Prehistoric
8000 BC - 2000 BC
First Settlements
The Cappadocia region bears traces of settlement dating back to 8000 BC, as revealed by excavations at Aşıklı Höyük. During this period, people took advantage of the natural shelters offered by volcanic rocks and produced tools and weapons by working obsidian stone.
Obsidian Trade
The region's rich obsidian deposits made Cappadocia an important trade center in prehistoric times. Obsidian extracted from the areas around Mount Erciyes and Mount Hasan formed a vast trade network reaching as far as Mesopotamia and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Key Events
MÖ 8000
First settlement at Aşıklı Höyük
MÖ 6000
Development of obsidian trade