Göbeklitepe , or Göbekli Tepe , is a Neolithic archaeological site located 18 km northeast of Şanlıurfa province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey

Göbeklitepe , or Göbekli Tepe , is a Neolithic archaeological site located 18 km northeast of Şanlıurfa province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey , near the village of Örencik in the Haliliye district. [ 1 ] Dating back to around 9600-9500 BC, Göbeklitepe is the oldest known historical structure in the world. [ 2 ] It is also referred to as the "zero point of history" in some popular sources. [ 3 ] The structure consists of a series of large circular structures with stone pillars, which are the oldest known megaliths in the world. [ 4 ] Believed to belong to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, this structure has 10-12 T-shaped megaliths arranged in a circular plan, with stone walls between them. In the center of the structure, two taller megaliths are placed opposite each other. [ 4 ] Most of these obelisks have depictions of humans, hands and arms, various animals and abstract symbols, carved or engraved on them. Some of the sculptures and stones unearthed in the excavations in the region are currently on display at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum . [ 5 ]

The motifs in question are used so densely that they are sometimes not merely ornamental. It is thought that this composition expresses a story, a narrative, or a message. [ 6 ] Among the animal motifs , the bull , wild boar , fox , snake , wild duck , and vulture are the most frequently seen. [ 7 ] It is defined as a cult center , not a settlement . It is understood that the cult structures here were built by the last hunter-gatherer groups who were close to agriculture and animal husbandry . [ 8 ] In this case, it is suggested that the earliest use of the region dates back to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Age , that is, at least 11,600 years ago. [ 7 ]

These obelisks are interpreted as stylized human sculptures. The human hand and arm motifs found on the bodies of the central obelisks, especially the D-shaped ones, eliminate any doubt on this matter. Therefore, the concept of "obelisk" is used as an auxiliary concept that does not specify a function. Essentially, these "obelisks" are stylized sculptures depicting the human body in three dimensions. [ 9 ]

However, it is not currently possible to date the earliest activities at Göbeklitepe; but looking at these monumental structures, it is thought to have a history extending back to the Paleolithic Age , several millennia earlier, to the Epipaleolithic . [ 2 ] [ 10 ] It is understood that Göbeklitepe was used as a cult center until 8000 BC and was abandoned after that date and was not used for other or similar purposes. [ 11 ]

All these factors, and the monumental architecture unearthed during the excavations, make Göbeklitepe a unique and special site. In this context, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list in 2011 and in the permanent list in 2018. [ 12 ]

After other archaeological sites of similar nature were found in the region, this archaeological site group, which includes Göbeklitepe, was named Stone Hills in 2021. [ 13 ]

Göbeklitepe is claimed to be the oldest and first known temple ever studied. This megalithic structure, dating back at least 5,000 years further than any known example, clearly demonstrates the decisive role of religious beliefs in the formation and development of civilizations. Klaus Schmidt, who directed the excavations for many years, said, "First the temple was built, then the city was founded," highlighting how fundamental and powerful a motivation the human need to believe is. [ 14 ]

Location and surroundings

A view of Haliliye from Göbeklitepe .
Known locally as "Göbekli Tepe Visitation" because of the presence of a shrine visited on the hill, [ 15 ] the elevation is a 15-meter-high hill covering an area of ​​300x300 meters on a limestone plateau about 1 km long . In addition to cult structures, there are also quarries and workshops on the plateau. [ 10 ] [ 16 ]

The area where the finds were discovered is a group of red earth mounds, about 150 meters in diameter, extending in a northwest-southeast direction, with slight depressions between them, and bordered by a steep-sided stream bed to the west. The tombs were discovered on the two highest mounds. [ 15 ]

In conclusion, it is suggested that Göbeklitepe may not be the only center of faith in the Urfa region, and that there may be several other centers of faith and cult structures. [ 19 ] However, the important point here is that smaller megaliths in other settlements show similarities with the later layer of Göbeklitepe. [ 6 ]