Yumuktepe 🇹🇷

Welcome to Yumuktepe, also known as Yümüktepe, a fascinating historical tell or ruin mound located directly within the city borders of Mersin, Turkey. Back in 1936, this ancient site sat peacefully on the outskirts of Mersin, but as the population rapidly grew, it became fully surrounded by the urban Toroslar municipality. When you visit Yumuktepe, you are stepping onto a remarkably deep layer of history.

Excavations at the site have revealed a Neolithic settlement with human presence that continued all the way up into the medieval ages. As you explore this urban archaeological gem, you can contemplate the work of pioneering British archaeologist John Garstang, who founded the British Institute in Ankara and began exploring the mound between 1936 and 1938. His work was later carried forward after World War II alongside prominent archaeologists Veli Sevin and Isabella Caneva.

Yumuktepe offers you a unique chance to experience thousands of years of continuous human habitation nestled right inside a bustling modern city.

What to see at Yumuktepe

• Ancient tell (ruin mound) located inside Mersin, Turkey
• Continuous settlement spanning from the Neolithic period to the medieval ages
• First excavated between 1936 and 1938 by archaeologist John Garstang
• Surrounded today by the vibrant Toroslar municipality

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that some historic excavation records from Liverpool University were lost in a World War II air raid, making the physical mound itself an invaluable record of the past.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Yumuktepe is easy to reach on Mersin’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Soli and Atatürk Park. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Mersin travel guide.