Göbeklitepe: Zero Point of History
Göbeklitepe is a center of belief dating back 12,000 years, created by people who were still living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle at that time.
One of the factors that makes Göbeklitepe, one of the most significant discoveries in the history of archaeology, so important is that it was constructed 12000 years ago by hunter-gatherer societies who had not yet transitioned to a settled lifestyle. Remarkably, this monumental site was built using only flint stones and human labor, without the aid of any tools or machinery.
Göbeklitepe has challenged the long-standing theory taught in history classes that "nomadic communities transitioned to settled life by learning agriculture." While it was previously thought that the shift to settled life occurred with the advent of farming and animal husbandry, it has been observed that hunter-gatherer communities transitioned to a settled lifestyle as a result of congregating at religious centers like Göbeklitepe. The desire of large communities to be near their places of worship, coupled with the lack of sufficient local resources to meet their needs, led people to turn towards agriculture.
Göbeklitepe is approximately 6500 years older than the temple in Malta, 7000 years older than Stonehenge and 7500 years older than the Egyptian Pyramids. The most important feature that makes Göbeklitepe different from other monumental structures is that, in addition to being built 12000 years ago, the obelisks in the area clearly symbolize humans.
Göbeklitepe also reflects the advanced symbolic world of Neolithic people, representing a high level of human creative genius. The human and animal sculptures found on-site and the stone craftsmanship are executed with such skill that they would impress even contemporary sculptors and artists. Most importantly, the site was intentionally buried by its creators after 1000 years of use, emphasizing a sense of renewal and preservation.
Göbeklitepe, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2011, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2018 during the 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting held in Bahrain, becoming Turkey's 18th World Heritage site.
While Göbeklitepe has led to many discoveries, unresolved questions about the site puzzle scientists. The mysteries include who built these temples, how the 60-ton columns were transported and erected, why they were buried under tons of earth and stone, and the exact purpose of the temples. These questions remain unanswered and will likely require years of further research. One certainty is that these investigations will continue contributing to our understanding of human history and potentially revising previously established narratives.
Elevate Your Space with Göbeklitepe Stones: A Journey into the Ancient World
We recommend exploring our collection of Göbeklitepe stones to enhance the beauty of your home and immerse yourself in the ancient world.
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