Göbekli Tepe, Southeastern Turkey. A Preliminary Report on the 1995-1999 Excavations (original) (raw)
Related papers
Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. A brief summary of research at a new World Heritage Site (2015–2019)
e-Forschungsberichte, 2020
Göbekli Tepe (~9.500–8.000 calBC) is a prehistoric site in Southeast Turkey that dates back to an early stage in the transition from hunter-gathering to farming economies in the Near East. Research undertaken in the period 2015–2019 has included the excavation of deep-soundings and the re-evaluation of some two decades of excavation records. This work is leading to a revision of former interpretations of the prehistoric site which still fuel the popular media image of Göbekli Tepe as home to the »World’s First Temples«.
Asia Anteriore Antica. Journal of Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, 2020
The most famous Pre-pottery Neolithic site of Anatolia, Göbekli Tepe, since 1994 has been the subject of intensive studies due to its peculiar characteristics , linked to the presence of both circular buildings and the so-called anthropo-morphic T-shaped pillars. It was supposed that its discovery would have been one of a kind, but in the next few years scholars revealed the existence of similar settlements in the area of Şanlıurfa Province. These sites, still far from being investigated, share with Göbekli Tepe the same archaeological evidences, including chronological features, size and architectural and iconographic traits. The aim of this article is to focus on the new available data, which could lead us to re-discuss the interpretive models valid up to a few years ago, as recent publications point out. New inter-pretive tools and excavations are required to better understand what seems to be the clue of the presence of a real cultural facies with precise connotations, amongst which an high specialized craftmanship, that was able to exploit the best limestone morphology of the territory for the construction of monumental complexes.
Göbekli Tepe is one of the most fascinating Neolithic sites in the world. It is a tell, an artificial mound dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic. It was not used for habitation; it consists of several sanctuaries in the form of round megalithic enclosures. The site lies about 15km north-east of the Turkish city of Sanlıurfa, at the highest point of an extended mountain range that can be seen for many kilometres around. It is a landmark visible from far away . Its enormous deposition of layers, up to fifteen metres high, have accumulated over several millennia over an area of about nine hectares. Even today, the place has lost nothing of its magic appeal. For example, a wishing tree which stands on top of the ridge is still sought out by the residents of the surrounding area.
The Göbekli Tepe excavations – Frequently Asked Questions
"The Tepe Telegrams" is a weblog meant to give insight into ongoing excavations and archaeological research at the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey. Notes on recent field work and short contributions by staff members of the research project will address some of the questions and topics often brought up regarding the monumental structures unearthed at Göbekli Tepe.
The paper is a continuation of a trilogy of papers by the author on the subject of dating Gobekli Tepe. In this paper, two additional sites and some of their monuments are analyzed: Tell Qaramel and Tell Es-Sultan. They provide, along with some more evidence on the c-14 readings and structure B from Gobekli Tepe and with a more detailed examination of the Temple at Nevali Cori additional documentation and evidence as to why Gobekli Tepe is a 6th millennium BC site. In doing so, the author presents a Theory of Evolution of Early Neolithic Architecture. A new view of the burial phases of Gobekli Tepe is presented, that offers the possibility to re-examine the entire construction and burial historiography of the site.
Documenta Praehistorica (Ljubliana) 37, 2010
Göbekli Tepe is one of the most fascinating Neolithic sites in the world. It is a tell, an artificial mound dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic. It was not used for habitation; it consists of several sanctuaries in the form of round megalithic enclosures. The site lies about 15km north-east of the Turkish city of Sanlıurfa, at the highest point of an extended mountain range that can be seen for many kilometres around. It is a landmark visible from far away . Its enormous deposition of layers, up to fifteen metres high, have accumulated over several millennia over an area of about nine hectares. Even today, the place has lost nothing of its magic appeal. For example, a wishing tree which stands on top of the ridge is still sought out by the residents of the surrounding area.
ISTANBULER MITTEILUNGEN, 2021
Boncuklu Tarla was discovered in 2008 during a survey in the catchment area of the Ilısu Dam for the hydroelectric power plant project in the region. Excavations were initiated at the site in 20122. It is located about 3 km to the south-west of the center of the Ilısu Dam, 2 km to the west of the Tigris River, and a few meters to the south of the Nevala Maherk creek (map 1). It is about 550m above the sea level, on the northern edge of a deep valley opening towards the Eastern Taurus range and the Cizre Plain. Volcanic and calcareous mountains and hills surround the site. Archaeological excavations were conducted at the site during 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2020, which have revealed a continuous stratigraphy from the Proto-Neolithic (Late Epipaleolithic Period) to the end of the Late PPNB Level 13: Late PPNB, Level 2: Middle PPNB, Level 3: Early PPNB, Level 4a–b: PPNA-PPNB transition, Levels 5a, 5b, and 6a: PPNA, Levels 6b and 7: Late Epipaleolithic / Proto-Neolithic (fig. 1, table 1)4. Within the long duration of occupation at Bon- cuklu Tarla, levels 4a–4b, 5a–5b, and 6b are dated to the PPNA Period5 while levels 6a and 7 are dated to the 11th millennium BCE, to the Proto-Neolithic (Late Epipaleolithic)6, corresponding with the Younger Dryas. In a regional context, excavations at the PPNA sites of Boncuklu Tarla, Çayönü7, Çemka Höyük8, Demirköy9, Gusir Höyük10, Hallan Çemi11, Hasankeyf Höyük12 and Körtik Tepe13 provided insights into the Neolithization process in the Upper Tigris Valley and the social organization in these early sedentary hunter-gatherer-fisher villages. Monumental communal structures from Göbekli Tepe14 in Şanlıurfa further contributed to our knowledge of the PPNA Period architecture in Southeastern Anatolia.
EXCAVATIONS AT ZIYARET TEPE, DIYARBAKIR PROVINCE, TURKEY, 2011-2014 SEASONS
This article presents the results of excavations at Ziyaret Tepe, the Late Assyrian city of Tušhan in the Diyarbakır Province of southeastern Turkey during the summers of 2011-2013, as well as from a study season in 2014. Excavation in nine operations is briefly summarized, and the preliminary results of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical studies in three operations are presented. Major public buildings of the Late Assyrian period (c. 882-611 BC) were recovered in Operation AN (palace), Operation W (administrative building), and Operation Y (city fortification), while an exposure of domestic architecture was revealed in Operation K. Also of importance from these field seasons was the documentation of a Late Roman, or Late Antique, occupation in Operations T and U. Zooarchaeological evidence from earlier excavations in Operation K reveal the subsistence practices of commoners during the Late Assyrian period. Likewise, the use of plants for human food and animal fodder are discussed for the Late Assyrian (Operation Q, the city gate excavated earlier) and the Late Antique (Operation T, domestic housing) periods. These combined reports outline the importance of animal husbandry, as well as agricultural production of grain, as key economic aspects of the Late Assyrian settlement, and complement existing cuneiform documentation.