Göbeklitepe

Göbeklitepe or Göbekli Tepe is a Neolithic archaeological site located near Örencik village in Haliliye district, 18 km northeast of Şanlıurfa province in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey[1]. Dating back to around 9600–9500 BC, Göbeklitepe is the oldest known historical structure in the world so far.[2] It is also referred to as the "zero point of history" in some popular sources.[3] The work consists of a series of large circular structures with stone columns, which are the oldest known megaliths in the world.[4] In this structure, which is thought to belong to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Age, 10-12 T-shaped obelisks are arranged in a circular plan and the spaces between them are built with stone walls. In the center of the building, two higher obelisks are placed opposite each other.[4] On most of these obelisks, people, hands and arms, various animals and abstract symbols are depicted in relief or carving. Some statues and stones unearthed during excavations in the region are currently exhibited in Şanlıurfa Archeology Museum.[5]

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

The obelisks in question are interpreted as stylized human statues. Especially the human hand and arm motifs found on the body of the D-shaped central obelisks eliminate any doubt on this subject. For this reason, 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.

However, it is not possible to date the oldest activities in Göbeklitepe for now; However, when we look at these monumental structures, it is thought that they have a history that dates back to the Paleolithic Age and several thousand years older, to the Epipaleolithic. It is understood that the use of Göbeklitepe as a cult center continued until 8000 BC and that it was abandoned after this date and was not used for other or similar purposes.

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