26.12.2023
5 Dakika
Türkiye is in a unique position to host special processes that have been central to human history and contain impressive pieces of our shared historical heritage. On the Turkish Museums platform, we explore together these works, some of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and which have fundamentally changed the knowledge of human history.
The remains of the Göbeklitepe site, which were first discovered in the 1960s and have been considered an important turning point in human history since excavation work began in 1995, are the subject of this article.
Göbeklitepe, one of the most important discoveries in world archaeological history, has created a surprising breakthrough in the line of development that humanity is said to have followed until its discovery. The advanced architectural features show that humans created such a magnificent place of worship as early as 12,000 BC, at a time when they probably lived as hunter-gatherers. The revelation that humankind built such a magnificent place of worship some 12,000 years ago, with advanced architectural features far beyond those previously known, caused worldwide astonishment and admiration.
The remains found at Göbeklitepe date from thousands of years ago, when people began to use writing. They shed light on the esthetic sensibilities of people at the beginning of the Neolithic Age and reveal greater secrets about the lives of our ancestors who lived in the same world as us in this very distant period of history.
How did people perceive the world 12,000 years ago? What did the world look like to our ancestors, about whom we know few details and who are thought to have lived as hunter-gatherers? And how did this incredible structure Göbeklitepe, built in an incredible time, influence the people who lived in this magical world?
The magnificent remains at Göbeklitepe not provide all the answers to these questions, but they promise to give visitors small clues to the answers and convey something of what Neolithic people felt as they experienced their mysterious world. Let us take a closer look at this unique work of humanity's common heritage.
Located in Mesopotamia, witnessing the first emergence of communities engaged in agriculture in the world, the monumental remains of Göbeklitepe consist of T-shaped columns, some of which reach a height of 5.5 meters. The limestone pillars with their general shapes and the probably clothed human figures, including some in the form of small and large wild animal figures, indicate that the area was used as a complex where Neolithic people gathered for religious activities.
These T-shaped pillars, one of the first monumental works of humanity, also seem to testify to the transition of our ancestors to a new technological stage. The region where the characteristic developments of the Neolithic Age emerged and spread probably harbors traces of a time when people specialized in different activities and developed a more complex social structure.
During the excavation work at Göbeklitepe, which took place from 1995 to 2014 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Klaus Schmidt, 6 enclosed spaces were uncovered, which were created by the circular arrangement of 10-12 of the 40-ton columns and the construction of walls between them. Geomagnetic measurements show that there are about 20 of these enclosed areas. The pillars in this area show animal motifs such as bulls, wild boars, foxes, snakes, wild ducks and vultures, as well as some abstract symbols. Although these motifs are considered purely decorative, it is assumed that they were not just for decoration but also convey a special story. This idea is also the basis for the assumption that the remains in the Göbeklitepe belong to a cult center of a profound belief system that originated in the Neolithic Age.
If you are fascinated by the charm of these unique remains at Göbeklitepe and want more information to color your dreams about this era, you should also visit the Şanlıurfa Museum, which exhibits some other remains found during the excavations in the area.
Göbeklitepe marks a very critical transition period for humanity, where the hunter-gatherer way of life gave way to agricultural production. Göbeklitepe is also an extraordinary symbol as a monument in which creativity, one of the most important characteristics that distinguishes humans from other living beings, is generously depicted.
Göbeklitepe, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of recent years and a great testimony to one of the most magical moments in human history, is a must-see. When you visit this archaeological site, one of the most impressive historical remains in the world, you can also read our blog titled "5 Must-See Places in Şanlıurfa" among Turkish Museums blogs to get information about other important historical and cultural sites nearby.
