Around Çiftlik, various chapters of the past meet a diverse landscape. This is particularly tangible at the Çiftlik Tepecik archaeological site: it lies on the Melendiz Plain, one kilometre east of Çiftlik. Visitors planning a stay can connect archaeological themes here with the different settlements elsewhere in the district.
Tepecik-Çiftlik and its long sequence of settlement
Pottery and obsidian finds at the Çiftlik-Tepecik site point to settlement from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. A total of 14 layers have been identified at Tepecik-Çiftlik Höyük. These include layers from the Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic, the Early Chalcolithic, and the Late Roman–Early Byzantine period. The continuous sequence from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic to the end of the Early Chalcolithic makes the settlement a key site for understanding Neolithic cultures in the eastern volcanic Cappadocia region.
The Tepecik-Çiftlik excavation house of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Istanbul University is located on İnönü Caddesi in Yeni Mahalle, 51800 Çiftlik/Niğde. In Çiftlik, the excavation house and the Old Health Station serve as landmarks. Excavation work takes place from July to September; outside these months, the site and house are not open to visitors. If you are planning a visit, confirm access directly in advance.
Archaeological sites in the surrounding area
Göllüdağ Ören Yeri, near Kömürcü, is considered the only identified Late Hittite centre in Central Anatolia. The remains are attributed to the Late Hittite city-states between 1200 and 700 BC; an origin in the 8th century BC is considered likely. The large walled area includes settlement areas as well as temple and house foundations. There is also a small lake within the walls. The various finds give the site a different historical focus from Tepecik-Çiftlik’s long Neolithic sequence of layers.
Also near Kömürcü, on the eastern slopes of the Melendiz Mountains in the Kozkuyu area, is an obsidian deposit. It is described as a prehistoric open-air workshop; obsidian flakes can be found nearby. In the wider district, in the village of Murtaza, Murtaza Castle stands on a massive rock. The castle is thought to be about 1,000 years old and also has remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages. The entrance gate, six towers, and defensive walls have survived.
Landscape of the wider travel region
Göllüdağ is an extinct volcano 2,172 metres high, with a crater lake. The Melendiz Çayı also helps put the wider landscape in context: it rises in the village of Sultanpınar, crosses the Melendiz Plain, flows through İlisu in Aksaray Province and the Ihlara Valley, and empties into the Mamasın Reservoir. It is considered the most important river in Çiftlik District. These regional connections complement the archaeological sites without equating them with the town centre.
Getting there and planning your stay
One described route is to take a shuttle from Niğde Bus Station to Eski Garaj, then continue to Çiftlik by minibus; these minibuses are said to depart hourly. A direct bus connection from Istanbul to Çiftlik with Metro Turizm is also described. Check current connections and departure times before travelling. If you are looking for a hotel in Çiftlik and want to visit Tepecik-Çiftlik, first confirm access and plan your travel dates accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Orhanlı Municipality, Çiftehan, Yeşilgölcük Municipality, Bozköy, Değirmenli, Burç Municipality, Niğde, Ulukışla
Return to the broader travel overview: Niğde.
