Gobekli Tepe

About

Nearly 12,000 years ago, Stone Age hunter-gatherers erected a series of megaliths at Gobekli Tepe. This discovery revolutionized archaeologists' view of Stone Age man. Rather than roaming the earth as previously thought, Gobekli Tepe stands as a permanent fixture, and the nearby site of Mount Karaca Dag is believed to be the origin of cultivated grains. While it’s believed the site was for rituals rather than a permanent settlement, these findings suggest a transition period when man first tried to settle down and farm. Adding to the mystery are the carvings of dangerous animals like lions, snakes, spiders, and scorpions on the site’s T-shaped columns, rather than hunting imagery as would be expected. So far only 1 acre has been unearthed, and it’s believed the site extends for another 22 acres, which might give more clues as to the nature of the site and the people who built it.