GOBEKLITEPE

Hidden beneath a hill in southeastern Türkiye for thousands of years, Göbeklitepe remained unknown until its discovery reshaped the story of early human civilization. Today, it is considered one of the world's oldest monumental sanctuaries. 

Göbeklitepe is a multi-layered settlement believed to have been in use from around 10000 to at least 8000 BCE. Although it remained buried for thousands of years, its discovery has dramatically reshaped our understanding of the Neolithic period and the origins of complex human societies.

It consists of at least 20 circular enclosures with large T-shaped limestone pillars embedded in their walls and larger pillars at their center that can measure up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall. These pillars seem to be anthropomorphic, meaning they are stylized to represent humans or possibly gods with human appearances. 

Aerial view of Göbeklitepe

Other than their human features, they contain various animal carvings, most notably snakes, boars, birds, and foxes. Some animals are more common in some enclosures than others, raising the possibility of differing beliefs or uses of enclosures. For instance, while Enclosure A consists mostly of snake carvings, Enclosure C is dominated by carvings of boars. Both human and animal figures illustrated have exaggerated phalluses, erect male reproductive organs, indicating fertility and prosperity. However, women seem to have been excluded from all the pieces except for one in which a woman with an exaggerated pelvis is supposedly giving birth. 

An example of an antropomorphic column with an exaggerated phallus

An example of an animal carving

While archaeological studies in the area are still in progress, the current findings have completely shifted some major historical assumptions about the transition to the Neolithic. For decades, researchers believed that agriculture came first and enabled people to settle permanently and construct monumental architecture. Göbeklitepe suggests the opposite may have been true. Evidence indicates that people gathered and lived at the site before agriculture was fully established, raising the possibility that shared beliefs, rituals, and social cooperation may have encouraged communities to settle and eventually adopt farming rather than the other way around.

Another enduring mystery surrounds the site's final chapter. Instead of being abandoned, many of its enclosures appear to have been deliberately buried using soil and animal remains. The reason for this remains unknown, but some researchers have suggested that this intentional burial may have symbolized the ceremonial closure of a sacred place, or even served as a symbolic farewell to a past home.