The 2012 excavation of Boncuklu Tarla had a scope of “studies for the Documentation and Rescue of Cultural Assets Remaining in the Interaction Area of the Ilısu Dam and HES Project” around the rural neighbourhood of Ilisu. More than 15 restorers and archaeologists have assisted in the excavation of the area with the aid of 50 workers. The excavations continued in 2017 by initiating excavation on the eastern sector of Boncuklu Tarla. In 2019 this excavation revealed this section of the site was occupied by three different phases during the tenth millennium. The excavation uncovered four types of building structures, a sewage system and over two dozen artifacts. Among artifacts found at Boncuklu Tarla were thousands of beads for ornaments, obsidian or flint blades and tools used to cut stone. Tools discovered also included blades, gimlets, arrowheads and microliths.
