Turkey

Karahan Tepe

Neolithic ritual complex in Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey

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Historical Context

About

Karahan Tepe (Kurdish: Girê Keçel) is an archaeological site in Şanlıurfa Province in Turkey. The site is close to Göbekli Tepe and archaeologists have also uncovered T-shaped stelae there and believe that the sites are related. According to Daily Sabah, "The excavations have uncovered 250 obelisks featuring animal figures" as of 2020. Additionally, the site may be the earliest known human village, predating the construction of Göbekli Tepe, dating to between 9,000-11,000 BC. The site is located near Yağmurlu and roughly 46 kilometers east of Göbekli Tepe, which is often called its sister site. It is part of the Göbekli tepe Culture and Karahan tepe Excavations project. The area is known as “Keçilitepe” by local people. It is part of a region of similar sites now being uncovered known as the Taş Tepeler.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Discovery

1997

Obelisks reported

2020

Recent sculpture finds

September 2023

Dating

c. 9000–11000 BC

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Religious and Ritual Structures

StelaeCeremonial Platforms
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Artistic and Decorative Features

StatuesMonumentsReliefs
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Domestic and Habitation Structures

Villages
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Soil Layers
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Reference

Details

Country

Turkey

Coordinates

37.09° N, 39.30° E