Posted on 08/14/2018 11:56:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
On a hill known as Göbekli Tepe ("Potbelly Hill") in southeastern Turkey, excavations led by Klaus Schmidt uncovered several large megalithic enclosures that date between 10,000 and 8000 B.C.E., the dawn of civilization and the Neolithic age. Each of these circular enclosures, which many have described as Turkey's "Stonehenge," consists of 10 to 12 massive stone pillars surrounding two larger monoliths positioned in the middle of the structure. There are no village remains at or near the Göbekli Tepe ruins, suggesting that the unique site was a ceremonial center exclusively used for the practice of the Neolithic religion of local hunter-gatherer groups.
Given the early age of the site, equally surprising are the varied and often highly elaborate carvings that adorn the pillars of the Göbekli Tepe ruins. Among the pillars are detailed and often very realistic depictions of animal figures, including vultures and scorpions, lions, bulls, boars, foxes, gazelles, asses, snakes and other birds and reptiles. In addition, some of the massive monoliths are carved with stylized anthropomorphic details -- including arms, legs and clothing -- that give the impression of large super-human beings watching over the enclosures.
(Excerpt) Read more at biblicalarchaeology.org ...
The massive stone enclosures of the Göbekli Tepe ruins (known to many as Turkey's "Stonehenge") may be the earliest examples of Neolithic religion. What do the enclosures and the fascinating reliefs that adorn their pillars reveal about the oldest religion in the world? Photo: Vincent J. Musi/National Geographic Stock.
Right next to Sanliurfa, Abraham’s birthplace, Ur of the Chaldees.
Archeologists have to be crazy to think that Tepe was built by hunter-gathers. Only a sophisticated, settled culture could have mustered the resources to build it.
Carvings into sandstone would be easier than the bluestone of Stonehenge.
Looks a bit like Stonehenge.
Were not those folks hunter gatherers?
Probably not.
Agriculture and wide-ranging trade networks ("Civilization") are quite a bit older than what was once commonly believed. And large stone works simply could not have been built by small clans of hunter-gatherers.
There are hundreds of these holes - only a few have been excavated, while ground penetrating radar shows the other holes also have stone columns.
Archeologists have to be crazy to think that Tepe was built by hunter-gathers. Only a sophisticated, settled culture could have mustered the resources to build it.
It probably started out as a man cave for Krogger and Lawg to hide from the respective missus while drinking.
From there, it became a religion.
Makes sense...a mini stadium replica and the carvings are team mascots...
They had music,dancing,and beer. That’s civilized!
The current thinking, which is daft imho, is that the rather large site (IDs from radar as you noted, or as Time Team would say, geophys) hasn't been touched yet -- it's probably going to turn out to be a vast neolithic town, like Catal Huyuk has turned out to be. CH was considered a "ritual" or "ceremonial" site when first dug in the late 1950s early 1960s.
That's how I'd play it. ;^)
Sandstone is also less durable in the face of weathering, these look great for their age.
Even the idea that the site was deliberately buried each year after the visit of a bunch of nomads is and always has been utterly ridiculous imho. The site will turn out to be a town that was eventually abandoned in the face of — of course — climate change.
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