Rising from the depths of Türkiye’s cultural heritage and historical texture, Göbeklitepe invites its visitors to the mysterious world of stone age rituals. Göbeklitepe, the oldest temple complex known to humanity, emphasizes the cultural richness of Türkiye by revealing the deep belief systems and rituals of Stone Age communities.

Göbeklitepe is located near Örencik village in Şanlıurfa province in southeastern Türkiye. This ancient temple complex is located in the northeast of the Euphrates River, one of the most important water resources of the region, and in the northwest of the Harran Plain, which is located in the northern part of Mesopotamia and has hosted many civilizations throughout history. Located in a very important region in terms of its geographical location, Göbeklitepe makes a significant contribution to the historical and archaeological richness of the region. Göbeklitepe’s geographical location plays a key role in the discovery and understanding of this important archaeological site from the pre-agricultural revolution period.

The magic of Göbeklitepe dates back to B.C. It starts with its roots dating back to the 9600s BCE. This ancient temple complex is the oldest known temple in the world, having been built 12 thousand years ago. This extraordinary legacy of human history is also of great importance in terms of illuminating the period before the agricultural revolution.

An extraordinary example of both art and symbolism

One of the most striking aspects of Göbeklitepe is that it is decorated with huge stone columns and animal figures. These obelisks, each weighing tons, reveal how advanced the technical knowledge and organizational skills were at that time. These columns, ranging in size from 5 to 7 meters, have been carefully placed to create an enormous religious ritual area. The reliefs found in Göbeklitepe offer extraordinary examples of art and symbolism. Animal figures and geometric patterns reflect the belief systems of that period and shed light on the mythological world of thought of humanity. These reliefs show that the region is more than just a place of worship, it also has a rich social and cultural history.

The discovery of Göbeklitepe, a turning point in the world of archaeology

The discovery of Göbeklitepe is considered a turning point in the world of archaeology. This ancient temple complex offers new and in-depth insights into humanity’s past and cultural evolution. At the same time, the emergence of Göbeklitepe allows us to question the social organization, belief systems and technological skills of prehistoric communities.

A valuable part of cultural heritage

Göbeklitepe invites today’s people to a time journey regarding the beliefs, rituals and artistic understanding of the stone age people. This magical place is an unforgettable experience not only for archeology enthusiasts, but also for history lovers and exploration enthusiasts. Wandering among the mysterious columns of Göbeklitepe means opening a window into the depths of the past. This ancient temple complex remains in memory as a valuable part of humanity’s cultural heritage.

Why was Göbeklitepe abandoned?

Although there is no definitive information about why Göbeklitepe was abandoned, researchers and archaeologists put forward different theories. The fact that Göbeklitepe is the oldest known temple complex is of great importance in understanding the reasons for the abandonment of this ancient settlement. Here are some possible reasons:

  • End of its use for ritual purposes: The fact that Göbeklitepe was built as a temple complex is a concrete evidence that it was used for ritual and religious purposes. Changes in the belief systems or social organizations of the communities in the region may have led to the end of the use of Göbeklitepe.
  • Environmental changes: Climate changes or environmental factors may have affected the livability of the region, causing people to leave these settlements.
  • Migration of communities: The abandonment of Göbeklitepe may be a result of communities migrating to other regions or moving to different settlements. The needs of the communities, economic dynamics or other social reasons may have been effective in the abandonment of Göbeklitepe.
  • Natural disasters: Earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters may have played a role in the abandonment of Göbeklitepe.
Delayed discovery of Göbeklitepe

Göbeklitepe was discovered accidentally during surface research conducted in the Harran Plain by American archaeologist Peter Benedict in 1963. However, at that time, these ruins were misinterpreted as a Roman agricultural settlement on the riverside and no detailed research was carried out on them. The true importance and size of Göbeklitepe was understood with the excavations that started in the region in 1994 by a team led by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt. It was Schmidt who realized that the ruins thought to date back to the Roman period belonged to an earlier period. Göbeklitepe’s unique architecture and huge obelisks led Schmidt to conduct further research in the region. During the excavations that started in 1995, it turned out to be the oldest known temple complex, dating back to 9600 BCE. Obelisks, reliefs and other archaeological finds showed that this ancient temple complex was used for ritual and religious purposes. The discovery of Göbeklitepe has given archaeologists a greater understanding of the complex social structures and belief systems of stone age communities and caused them to review previous knowledge of human history.