Ancient human footprints discovered in southern Turkey

Archaeologists have discovered 7,000-year-old human footprints in Turkey’s southern Hatay province, Anadolu reported. The prints date back to around 5200 BCE and belong to the Ubaid period.

The footprints were found on August 21, 2025, at the ancient settlement of Tell Kurdu Höyük. They were preserved in a water-saturated clay layer, where people likely stepped shortly after rainfall. Researchers described the discovery as a rare “living” trace of prehistoric life on the Amuq Plain, a key crossroads of Anatolian, Levantine and Mesopotamian cultures.

Tell Kurdu is considered one of the largest settlements of the Ubaid era. Excavations led by Professor Rana Özbal of Koç University and Fokke Gerritsen of the Netherlands Institute in Turkey have previously uncovered remains of houses, streets and workshops. The newly found footprints further underscore the site’s importance.

Turkey’s Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy called the discovery “a unique testament to human presence in prehistoric Anatolia.” He said such imprints are of immense scientific value, offering a glimpse into daily life that pottery or architecture alone cannot convey.