The new Istanbul airport is a long way north west towards the Black Sea. The airport hotels match the rural settings.

Four early arrivals went for a seafood lunch at the Hanımeli Balık Restaurant beside the Black Sea.

Çatalhöyük is a neolithic town from 9000 years ago. Our New Scientist guide was Prof Çiler Çilingiroğlu who directed excavations here in 2018 and 2019.

The population estimate is 50 000.

This is a reconstruction showing a typical town house.

The original is in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

Boncuklu Höyük is a village within 9km of the much larger town of Çatalhöyük. It is also much older.

The population estimate is 900.

Aşıklı Höyük is more like Boncuklu Höyük in size and age but there are architectural differences. It is 150km from Çatalhöyük.