Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, just north of the Syrian border. The site, which dates back to the Neolithic era, is believed to be one of the oldest and most important religious structures in the world. The name Göbekli Tepe means “potbelly hill” in Turkish, and it is so named because of its rounded shape.
The history of Göbekli Tepe is shrouded in mystery. The site was first discovered in the 1960s by a team of German archaeologists, but it was not until the 1990s that excavations began in earnest. The team, led by archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, uncovered a complex of stone circles and pillars that dated back to around 11,000 BCE. This makes Göbekli Tepe one of the oldest known human-made religious structures in the world.
The stone circles and pillars at Göbekli Tepe are truly impressive. The pillars, which can be up to 6 meters tall, are decorated with intricate carvings of animals, including lions, snakes, and birds. The stone circles, which are up to 30 meters in diameter, are made up of these decorated pillars. The carvings on the pillars are believed to have had religious or ceremonial significance for the people who built Göbekli Tepe.
The discovery of Göbekli Tepe has challenged traditional theories about the development of human civilization. It was previously thought that the construction of monumental architecture, such as the stone circles and pillars at Göbekli Tepe, was only possible after the development of agriculture and settled communities. However, the carbon dating of Göbekli Tepe has shown that it was built by hunter-gatherer societies, who were not yet settled in one place. This suggests that the construction of Göbekli Tepe was a major achievement for these societies, and that they may have had a more complex social organization than previously thought.
One of the most intriguing theories about Göbekli Tepe is proposed by author Graham Hancock. In his book “Magicians of the Gods” Hancock suggests that Göbekli Tepe was built by a highly advanced civilization that existed before the last ice age. He argues that this civilization, which he calls the “Global Civilization”, was responsible for many of the world’s ancient structures, including the pyramids of Egypt and the stone circles of Britain.
According to Hancock, the Global Civilization was destroyed by a comet impact around 12,800 BCE. He argues that Göbekli Tepe was built as a memorial to this civilization, and that the carvings on the pillars depict the comet and its impact. Hancock’s theory is controversial and is not supported by mainstream archaeology.
Despite the ongoing debate about the true purpose and origins of Göbekli Tepe, one thing is certain: it is a truly remarkable site that has greatly expanded our understanding of the ancient world. It is a powerful reminder of the incredible achievements of our ancestors, and a testament to the human drive to understand the world around us.
It is still uncertain what the exact purpose of Gobekli Tepe was and what the people who built it were like. The site continues to be excavated and studied, and as more information is uncovered, we will likely learn even more about this mysterious and fascinating ancient structure.
In conclusion, Gobekli Tepe is an ancient site that pre-dates the settled communities and agriculture and is located in Turkey. It is a complex of stone circles and pillars that date back to around 11,000 BCE. The discovery of Gobekli Tepe has challenged traditional theories about the development of human civilization and the site continues to be excavated and studied
