Having stood for more than 11,000 years, Göbekli Tepe is a monumental structure of stone that is thought to be the world’s first temple, writes Joshua Kearney.
Göbekli Tepe, Main Site/Wikimedia Commons
Prior to their documentation by Western archaeologists, the site was regarded as a sacred place by the peoples who lived near it – named Girê Mirazan, “Wish Hill”, in Kurdish.
Documentation in the West & excavation of the area
Its earliest academic record is being noted during an archaeological survey carried out in 1963 by Halet Çambel of Istanbul University and Robert John Braidwood of the University of Chicago. At the time, they mistook the upper parts of the site’s pillars for being grave markers.
However, the significance of the site would only be realised much later, when German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt re-examined the area in 1994. He continued to oversee excavation until his death in 2014, succeeded by joint efforts between the German Archaeological Institute, Istanbul University, and the Şanlıurfa Museum.
As of 2021, only about 10% of Göbekli Tepe has been excavated.
Aerial View/Wikimedia Commons
Main features of the site
The heart of Göbekli Tepe (“Belly Hill” in Turkish) is comprised of a number of T-shaped limestone megaliths arranged into several rings, each surrounding and slightly above the last. These megalithic pillars stand up to 5.5 metres tall and weigh as much as 45 metric tonnes – an architectural marvel for a people working only with tools of flint and stone.
Geophysical surveys have found that, between the unburied and still-buried parts of the site, 20 distinct rings of up to 8 pillars each are laid out across the hillside. Only 4 of these rings have been excavated so far, leaving 4/5ths of nearly 200 total pillars yet to be uncovered.
The Pillars, 2014/Wikimedia Commons
Design & purpose
Surrounding the main site, there are a variety of other structures of similar construction, including ancillary buildings, massive circular enclosures, extensive cereal processing, and even a rainwater collection system.
However, there remains a mystery: what was the purpose of the site? Previously, researchers believed it to be a nomadic sanctuary that served as a centre of worship. Between an abundance of animal bones and the numerous animal carvings, consistent with animist belief systems common to the region in the Neolithic ages, there is the strong implication of a religious element.
More recent discoveries, on the other hand, include distinctly domestic structures and various tools associated with daily life during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic ages. This suggests instead that it was a more permanent settlement, though the question of the purpose behind the pillars remains unanswered.
Pillar with Fox Carving/Wikimedia Commons
Pillar with Ducks and Boar/Wikimedia Commons
Repeated reconstruction & distinctive iconography
Evidence suggests that these structures had been roofed in the past, only to have regularly been buried or collapsed, then rebuilt. No definitive purpose for these carved pillars has been determined, leaving researchers to speculate.
Alongside these structures, a number of figurines and statues have also been uncovered. A majority of these finds are carved representations of animals, including foxes, vultures, lions, boars, bulls, and more.
Notably, the iconography and architecture are similar to contemporary sites in the area, such as Karahan Tepe and Gürcütepe.
Outside View/Wikimedia Commons
In 2018, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Göbekli Tepe is open to visitation from the public, included as a destination in a number of Turkish tours. If you find yourself in Turkey, it may be worth your time to visit such an ancient place and see some of the earliest works made by human hands.
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