Sanliurfa

Two incredible neolithic sites today,

We started off by going to Gobekli tepe, and on the way seeing the massive Ataturk dam on the river Euphrates . The archaeological site was excavated from 1995 until today and remains one of the earliest human constructions, dating from 9500 BC to around 8000 BC. It consists of a number of circular structures cut into the bedrock and containing rings of stone columns inscribed with animals, birds and human figures. The columns were T-shaped. This area is in the heart of the fertile crescent so central to development of early civilisation. The main site seems to have been used as a meeting or religious site, and some residential sites have been found around it, but it's not known if they represent a domestic settlement or just for guardians of the site. We should see many of the artifacts on our museum visit tomorrow. While we were there , there was a team from the Discovery Channel filming for a programme to be broadcast next year - we'll have to look out for it! Work continues!

The second site at Karahan tepe was only discovered recently with excavations starting 5 years ago. It's a bit later than Gobekli tepe, from 8500 BC. It is more clearly a settlement site with domestic tools and artifacts - all stone, both these sites predate ceramics and metals. There are also many columns in the circular areas, some T-shaped, but also many phallus-shaped. We were able to meet and discuss with the site director some of his interpretations about the site which was really interesting. Looking down from the top of the tel, it was easy to see other rings and marks in the surrounding land so I think they will be working there for many years to come. We weren't allowed to take pictures of some of the site because it hasn't been published yet.Læs mere