Göbeklitepe
The Neolithic Revolution
By Slowtravelguide
Nobody will deny that the discovery of the Göbeklitepe site was one of the most important findings in Turkey in the last 30 years. Many people agreed with me about that theory because when at the time of our visit, we were surrounded by several tour busses with tourists in the parking lot. It was the beginning of August, so no wonder of course.
From the parking lot, it is a short walk to the actual site. The spaceship shape of the building that protects the site from the weather elements lies conspicuously in the desert-like environment.
The Walk To The Göbeklitepe Site
In summer, with a burning sun, the walk from the parking lot to the actual site can be scorching; protect yourself from this heath, and bring water with you.
Almost there.
The Discovery And Rediscovery
Originally Gobeklitepe was discovered in 1963 through a Turkish-American joint survey project. This project was led by Halet Çambel from Istanbul and Prof. Robert John Braidwood from Chicago. The joint Istanbul – Chicago Universities Prehistoric Research in Southeastern Anatolia.
It was until 1994, however, that Klaus Schmidt (Heidelberg University in Germany) visited the site that the true significance was realised.
The ‘flying Saucer’ protects you from the sun and give’s you a 360° walk around view of Göbeklitepe.
Klaus Schmidt became head of the excavations that Harald Hauptman and Adnan Mısır initially started.
For the following years, he led the excavations until 2014, the year of his death.
It is hard to overestimate the importance of this site. The research by Klaus Schmidt has led to the discovery of the buildings and artefacts that changed drastically the understanding of this period of human history. Especially the transition from hunter-gatherer to an organised food-producing society, now referred to as the Neolithic revolution.
After Klaus Schmidt’s death, the project was continued under the directorship of the Şanlıurfa Arhaeolygy Museum, together with the German Archaeological Institute.
(Building C)
The site itself has limited proportions, but there is so much detail to discover that it doesn’t feel like that.
BUILDING D
It is the best-preserved monumental building discovered until now. The oval-shaped building measures 20m in diameter at its largest side, and like building C, it was erected upon the smoothed limestone bedrock. Building B has been dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) and/or Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB).
The two large central stone pillars were found slotted into shallow pedestals carved from the bedrock.
The building wall is interrupted by at least 12 smaller T-shaped pillars. In some parts of building D, lime plaster was found still adhering to the inner surface of the wall. This state of preservation could indicate that there was a roof on the building. This roof structure would have provided extra support to the large central pillars with only shallow foundations.
BUILDING B
Building B is located North of building A and can be dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) and/or Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB).
The shape is circular and has a diameter of 12m. Unlike buildings C and D erected upon natural limestone, Building B features an artificial terrazzo floor.
The two central T-shaped pillars are the largest in this building. A further nine smaller pillars are incorporated into its surrounding limestone wall. This number may increase when the excavation is resumed.
Building B in the foreground
BUILDING C
It is located on the East side of building B.
It is a sizeable oval-shaped building with a diameter of about 25m. It is the largest building on the site discovered until now.
It is dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) and/or Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB).
Building C was erected on the artificially smoothed limestone bedrock and had three concentric walls, each from a different building phase.
The outer wall of Building C belongs to the oldest phase; the inner wall was erected in the most recent phase.
The inner walls feature nine T-shaped pillars in place. Probably the original number was higher.
A narrow corridor (dronos) leading from the outer ring of the building could be a former entrance.
The opening to the dronos is marked by a sizeable U-shaped stone with a sculpture of s predator on one of its sides.
What To Expect
How To Get There: Private, rental car or public transport.
Nearest Airport: Şanlıurfa Airport.
Parking: Yes.
Terrain: Easy.
Stroller: Yes
Income: Yes (Museumpass is valid).
Facilities: Some.
Best Time To Visit: All year depending on the weather.
BUILDING A
The first megalithic building that was discovered was Building A. This building has straight lateral walls, so it is slightly different from its neighbours, which are oval (round). It is expected that older parts of the building are still hidden.
There are several images of wild images on the limestone T shaped monoliths.
An Illustration Of A Fox In Building B
A boar figure on one of the T shaped stones
Multiple Animal Figures. Fox, Bird, Ox
BUILDING F
It is located on the Southwest mound and can be assigned to the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB). The building is round/oval in shape and measures 7.5m in diameter.
This structure has an artificial terrazzo floor and eight T-shaped pillars. Again, this number will probably be too low and increase with the further excavation of the site.
Another Fox Figure
Several Bird Figures On This T shaped Stone
Places Nearby
Nemrut Find out what it is all about
Dara visit the Legend of Dara ancient city
Harran Kümbet Houses, a village that has been used for more than 200 years and is unique in the world (53 km)
Sogmatar Ruins, this ancient site, located in Sanliurfa, is one of the oldest settlements in the world (69km)
BUILDING E
Rock Temple
This building was one of the first monuments excavated at Gobeklitepe. It was discovered together with two large pits next to the North; it has an oval structure and was cut into the bedrock.
It took until the discovery of buildings C and D in the main excavation area to realise that this structure also was a monumental building.
There are no T-shaped supports or stone walls in building E like in the other structure.
What only was left was the limestone floor and two carved pedestals that were used to hold the T-shaped pillars.
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Quite spectacular, isn’t it?
Practical Information
Göbeklitepe is easy to reach, by car, public transport or private tours. As said earlier, protect yourself from the sun, there is not much shadow walking to the site itself.
Mardin
It is one of the poetic cities of the Southeast; Mardin gives the visitor the impression that time has stopped here. (Read more)
Dara
Dara Ancient City, where scientific excavations and research have been carried out for 33 years, was built by the Eastern Roman Empire as a military base in the wars against the Persians and took its name from the Persian King Darius. (Read more)
Nemrut
The Hierothesion on Mount Nemrut was constructed during King Antiochus I. Mount Nemrut is a central crossing point on the Upper Euphrates Valley. King Antiochus ruled during the most critical period of the Kommagen Kingdom. (Read more)
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