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New Discoveries at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe

Archaeologists have uncovered several new monumental statues and architectural elements at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe in Turkey, shedding new light on prehistoric art and ritual. These discoveries provide new insights into the complex and sophisticated societies that inhabited the region during the Mesolithic period.

By Nick Nutter on 2023-10-3 | Last Updated 2025-05-20 | Titbits and News from the Mare Nostrum

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New finds - Image by Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Archaeologists excavating at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe in Turkey have uncovered several new monumental statues and architectural elements, shedding new light on prehistoric art and ritual.

Gobekli Tepe

Gobekli Tepe by night

Gobekli Tepe is an ancient ritual complex believed to be the oldest known Mesolithic temple. It is located in the Anatolia region of Turkey and dates back to around 10,000 BC. Karahan Tepe is another ritualistic complex located about 40 km away from Gobekli Tepe. It is also Pre-Pottery Neolithic in date and has similar architectural elements to Gobekli Tepe.

Stone Hills Project

The most recent excavations, which are part of the "Stone Hills Project" ("Ta? Tepeler Projesi"), have uncovered new architectural elements and monumental statues at both sites. The most notable discovery is a painted boar statue at Gobekli Tepe. The statue is decorated with red, white, and black pigment and is one of the oldest known painted statues from the Mesolithic period. It was located on a stone bench decorated with a "H shaped symbol, a crescent, two snakes, and depictions of human faces."

Karahan Tepe

At Karahan Tepe, the team found a 2.3-metre-tall statue, described as "one of the most impressive examples of prehistoric art." The statue was found fixed in a seated position on a stone bench and is shown holding a phallus in both hands. Excavations in the vicinity also uncovered a bird statue clearly showing the beak, eyes, and wings, which the team suggests depicts a vulture.

Previous excavations at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe have found other animal reliefs depicting snakes, insects, birds, the head and forelegs of a rabbit, the hind legs and tail of a gazelle, and the hind legs of an unidentified animal.

The new discoveries at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe are significant because they provide new insights into the complex and sophisticated societies that inhabited the region during the Mesolithic period. The statues and architectural elements suggest that these societies had a deep understanding of symbolism and ritual. They also suggest that these societies were highly interconnected and shared many cultural similarities.

The discoveries at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe are still in their early stages, but they have already revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric art and ritual. Future excavations are likely to reveal even more about these fascinating and enigmatic sites.