An ancient group of structures rests quietly on a hill about 40 miles north of the Syria-Turkey border. The distance from Urfa, the city to the southwest with a population of half a million, to the hill is only a few miles. This Turkish site is called Göbekli Tepe and was first discovered in 1963 by an archaeologist from the University of Chicago, Peter Benedict. Benedict saw the tops of what we now know to be pillars, but believed them to be gravestones. Subsequently, he dismissed the site as being an Islamic cemetery. As a result, one of the oldest architectural sites currently known to man remained untouched for over 30 years. In 1994, a German archaeologist named Klaus Schmidt saw the report from Peter Benedict's pseudo-discovery and traveled
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Although only some of the structures have been fully excavated, it is estimated that about 20 stone structures exist on the plateau. (Fig. 1) According to Edward B. Banning, a Canadian archaeologist and anthropologist at the University of Toronto, the stratigraphy of the site is typically broken into three layers: Level III, Level IIB, and Level IIA. Level III, the oldest layer, dates from around 9600 B.C., and is believed to have been constructed before the invention of pottery. Most of the structures are oval, and are comprised of T-shaped pillars forming the outer wall. (Fig. 2) Two even larger T-shaped pillars sit in the center of the oval. Oddly, the Level III structures (which are the oldest) also happen to be the largest. Level IIB structures are oval as well, but don’t have any monolithic pillars. Level IIA structures are similar to Level III structures, albeit on a smaller scale. Each structure was originally sunken underground, with the T-shaped pillars resting over four feet below ground level, which allowed the walls to be partially supported by the surrounding earth. The T-pillars, especially those in the center, are usually carved in raised relief. Most of the carvings are of snakes, foxes, birds, aurochs and other animals. (Fig. 3) The site has been preserved incredibly well, and this is due to a practice unique to some ancient cultures. According to Konstantin Pustovoytov, an archaeologist …show more content…
This view is held for a variety of reasons. First, when Schmidt began excavating, he found the structures did not have roofs. If the structures were open to the air, then they would not be suitable for long-term shelter. If they were not suitable for long-term residential shelter, then the structures must have been for temporary religious ceremonies. Klaus Schmidt espoused this view when he explained, "There are no traces of daily life…no fire pits. No trash heaps….First the temple, then the city.”2 The assertion is that religious architecture created urbanism. Schmidt also believed that a group of nomadic hunter gatherers lived in the area during the over 1000 year period that Göbekli Tepe was in use. According to him, the structures were only used by some priestly group at certain times of the year. When Schmidt writes, “Göbekli Tepe is not a settlement; it is a mountain sanctuary,”3 his word will generally be accepted merely because of his seniority. Sadly, this blind acceptance of Schmidt’s publications has led to a one-sided view of Göbekli Tepe. Despite the predominance of Schmidt’s temple view, a variety of archaeologists have challenged
Although only some of the structures have been fully excavated, it is estimated that about 20 stone structures exist on the plateau. (Fig. 1) According to Edward B. Banning, a Canadian archaeologist and anthropologist at the University of Toronto, the stratigraphy of the site is typically broken into three layers: Level III, Level IIB, and Level IIA. Level III, the oldest layer, dates from around 9600 B.C., and is believed to have been constructed before the invention of pottery. Most of the structures are oval, and are comprised of T-shaped pillars forming the outer wall. (Fig. 2) Two even larger T-shaped pillars sit in the center of the oval. Oddly, the Level III structures (which are the oldest) also happen to be the largest. Level IIB structures are oval as well, but don’t have any monolithic pillars. Level IIA structures are similar to Level III structures, albeit on a smaller scale. Each structure was originally sunken underground, with the T-shaped pillars resting over four feet below ground level, which allowed the walls to be partially supported by the surrounding earth. The T-pillars, especially those in the center, are usually carved in raised relief. Most of the carvings are of snakes, foxes, birds, aurochs and other animals. (Fig. 3) The site has been preserved incredibly well, and this is due to a practice unique to some ancient cultures. According to Konstantin Pustovoytov, an archaeologist …show more content…
This view is held for a variety of reasons. First, when Schmidt began excavating, he found the structures did not have roofs. If the structures were open to the air, then they would not be suitable for long-term shelter. If they were not suitable for long-term residential shelter, then the structures must have been for temporary religious ceremonies. Klaus Schmidt espoused this view when he explained, "There are no traces of daily life…no fire pits. No trash heaps….First the temple, then the city.”2 The assertion is that religious architecture created urbanism. Schmidt also believed that a group of nomadic hunter gatherers lived in the area during the over 1000 year period that Göbekli Tepe was in use. According to him, the structures were only used by some priestly group at certain times of the year. When Schmidt writes, “Göbekli Tepe is not a settlement; it is a mountain sanctuary,”3 his word will generally be accepted merely because of his seniority. Sadly, this blind acceptance of Schmidt’s publications has led to a one-sided view of Göbekli Tepe. Despite the predominance of Schmidt’s temple view, a variety of archaeologists have challenged