Friday, October 24 2025

Tag: Göbeklitepe

Daily Life Unearthed at Karahantepe: Over 30 Neolithic Dwellings Discovered

Daily Life Unearthed at Karahantepe: Over 30 Neolithic Dwellings Discovered in Southeastern Türkiye

Archaeologists excavating the Neolithic site of Karahantepe in Şanlıurfa — one of the key locations within the Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) Project — have uncovered more than 30 small dwellings dating back 11,000 years. The discovery reveals that this ancient settlement was not only a place of monumental architecture and ritual but also home to

Archaeologists have uncovered a T-shaped pillar carved with a human face at the Neolithic site of Karahantepe in southeastern Türkiye — a discovery described as a first in human history. The finding was announced by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on his official X (Twitter) account, where he wrote: “Karahantepe — A first in history! Within the scope of our Taş Tepeler Project, a T-shaped pillar with a human face has been unearthed for the first time.” The discovery forms part of the Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) Project, a long-term archaeological initiative led by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which explores the earliest stages of human settlement and symbolic expression in the Şanlıurfa region. A Turning Point in Neolithic Symbolism For decades, the T-shaped pillars of Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe have been interpreted as stylized human figures, primarily due to the carved arms and hands visible on many examples. Yet, this new pillar — the first to bear a carved human face — marks a major leap in understanding how early Neolithic societies perceived themselves. The pillar’s face, featuring deep-set eyes, a pronounced nose, and sharp contours, resembles other human sculptures from Karahantepe. Experts say the find reflects not only the craftsmanship of early Anatolian communities but also their emerging capacity for abstract and self-referential thought. From Symbol to Identity Until now, these T-shaped monoliths were thought to serve either as structural elements or abstract human representations. The new find, however, provides the first direct depiction of the human visage, offering a rare glimpse into the earliest stages of self-image in human history. Karahantepe and the Taş Tepeler Network Dating back approximately 12,000 years, Karahantepe is one of several interconnected sites in the Taş Tepeler region, which also includes Göbeklitepe, Sefertepe, Sayburç, Harbetsuvan Tepesi, and Çakmaktepe. These settlements continue to reshape our understanding of humanity’s transition from nomadic life to organized, temple-centered communities. Together, they position Anatolia as one of the earliest centers of symbolic architecture and spiritual innovation.

A Historic First at Karahantepe: Human-Faced T-Shaped Pillar Unearthed in Türkiye

Archaeologists have uncovered a T-shaped pillar carved with a human face at the Neolithic site of Karahantepe in southeastern Türkiye — a discovery described as a first in human history. The finding was announced by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on his official X (Twitter) account, where he wrote: “Karahantepe — A

Gobekli Tepe

Göbeklitepe Exhibition to Open in Berlin’s Museum Island with 96 Artifacts in 2026

Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that Göbeklitepe, one of the world’s most iconic Neolithic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage property, will be presented in a major international exhibition in Germany. Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı confirmed that “Myths in Stone: Göbeklitepe and the World of the Last Hunters” will open in February

Human-Statue-Gobeklitepe

12,000-Year-Old Human Statue Unearthed at Göbekli Tepe

Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced the discovery of a human statue embedded in a wall at Göbekli Tepe, the world’s oldest known temple complex in southeastern Türkiye. The artifact, believed to have been placed as a votive offering, is expected to provide groundbreaking insights into Neolithic rituals and belief

Göbekli Tepe

Türkiye’s Culture Minister Ersoy on Göbeklitepe: “We Are Committed to Shedding Light on Human History”

On the 7th anniversary of Göbeklitepe’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, emphasized the country’s ongoing efforts to preserve and study the site—often described as the “zero point of history.” Sharing his message via social media, Minister Ersoy stated: “Göbeklitepe, the oldest and most striking

A painted, wild boar sculpture was discovered at Göbeklitepe

A painted, wild boar sculpture discovered at Göbeklitepe

Exciting discoveries have been made at Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, often referred to as the “zero point” of history. In Göbeklitepe, a life-sized sculpture of a wild boar was unearthed. As part of the Taş Tepeler project, which sheds light on prehistory and has seen highly significant discoveries on a global scale, the archaeological excavations carried

Is concrete being poured at Göbeklitepe that zero point of human history

Is concrete being poured at Göbeklitepe that zero point of human history?

The news that concrete has been poured in a certain area of Göbeklitepe, which is considered the zero point of human history, located in the Şanlıurfa province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye, has caused astonishment. The claim that concrete was poured at Göbeklitepe came from Çiğdem Köksal-Schmidt, the wife of Klaus Schmidt, who

The traces of settlement are being reached in the excavations at Karahantepe

The traces of settlement are being reached in the excavations at Karahantepe

Karahantepe archaeological site excavations provide new information about the ancient past and human settlement patterns. The site is known for its stratified layers of occupation that span a wide range of historical periods, including the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages. These layers reveal a complex history of human habitation and cultural evolution. The works