Göbeklitepe's Impact on Understanding Early Human Societies

Göbeklitepe is a place thats rewriting the story of history. This ancient site, in Turkey is, like a time capsule. Whats been found there is nothing of astonishing. For a time people thought that humans only started building structures once they'd settled down and begun farming.. Göbeklitepe is turning that idea on its head.

Göbeklitepe, a place thats often called the worlds temple has really caught the attention of historians, archaeologists and pretty much anyone interested, in the past. Located in what's Turkey this site gives us a unique look at the spiritual and social lives of some of the earliest complex societies. The big complicated structures and detailed carvings discovered here have forced us to rethink what we thought we knew about the abilities of hunter gatherer groups, which in turn has made us take another look, at how civilizations developed over time.

Göbeklitepe is more, than a sight. Its significance runs deeper. The intricate carvings on the T shaped pillars depicting animals and strange symbols are an example of symbolic expression maybe even a precursor, to written language. It's clear that the people who built this place were master craftsmen. They were also thinkers, of complex ideas and coordinated effort. This challenges our assumption that only societies that had given up their lifestyle and settled down to farm could achieve such sophistication.

Uncovering the secrets of Göbeklitepe, a place thats been shrouded in mystery, for thousands of years is a task.. Archaeologists have been working tirelessly to unravel its enigmas. By employing a range of methods from excavation to interpretation of artifacts they're slowly building a picture of what life was like in this ancient wonder. As they dig deeper they're finding clues that are helping to rewrite the history books. Göbeklitepe it seems, is a site thats full of surprises and each new discovery is a window, into a past.

The excavations, at Göbeklitepe have been a game changer with archaeologists using everything from photogrammetry to ground penetrating radar to get a glimpse of the site without having to dig up the place. As it turns out these high tech methods have been really effective in uncovering the layout of the site, including where people lived and worshiped. The discoveries have been fascinating. Tools, beads and even leftovers from meals have all been found, giving us a good idea of what everyday life was like, for people living in a Neolithic community. It's amazing to think about the stories these artifacts tell.

The discovery of Göbeklitepe has completely upended our views, on culture. It now seems that spiritual or ceremonial practices might have been what brought these communities together. Whats striking is the enormity of the task of building Göbeklitepe. The fact that many people were able to work on such a massive project suggests that they had a fairly sophisticated social structure in place even before they started farming. This changes our picture of how human societies developed over time.