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Göbekli Tepe Ziyareti

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Göbekli Tepe Ziyareti
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 770 m
Region:
 Southeastern Anatolia
Province:
 Sanliurfa
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Karaharebe
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Aceramic

     

Location: This site lies 15 km northeast of the city of Sanliurfa; 2.5 km northeast of the village of Karaharabe (Örencik). The survey code of this site is V 52 / 1.
Geography and Environment: This site has been named Göbekli Ziyaret or Göbekli Tepe Ziyareti after the graves of saints on the mound. The site; which lies near a steep stream bed; consists of a series of hillocks composed of reddish soil; lying on a limestone ridge oriented northwest-southeast. It can be seen that there are burials on the two highest hillocks. The diameter of the area with these hillocks is 150 m. Although there is a seasonal stream west of the site; there are no water sources in the area and the region is thus not agriculturally productive [Benedict 1980:137; Braidwood-Braidwood 1986:8].
History:
Research and Excavation: The site was discovered in 1963 during the joint Southeast Anatolian Prehistorical Surface Survey conducted by the University of Chicago; Oriental Institute and by Istanbul University. Examples of chipped stone tools were collected mostly from the top of the mound and from the meadow on the western side of the mound [Benedict 1980:137]. This site was noted as one of the important sites found during the 1963 surface survey; together with Biris Mezarligi and Sögüt Tarlasi.In 1995, excavations started under the joined directory of A. Misir, Director of Sanliurfa Museum and H. Hauptmann from German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul with Heidelberg Universitat Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Germany as a partner. Following these excavations, K. Schmidt took over the project in 2001 and led the excavations until 2013. Since 2014, the Directorate of Sanliurfa Museum has been in charge of the excavations at Göbekli Tepe Ziyareti. The site is listed as an officially registered archaeological site by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Stratigraphy: This site is one of the more important Neolithic sites of Southeast Anatolia and is of special importance because it is accepted as being one of the few centers where the different transitional stages of the first food producing societies can be followed. The currently continuing excavations have yielded a total of five stratigraphic layers. However, the recent studies show that Göbekli Tepe comprises three layers. These layers are (from oldest to younger); Layer III: PPNA. Circle-like enclosures with T shaped pillars. Layer II: Early and Middle PPNB. Smaller sized rectangular buildings. Some of these buildings contain one or two pillars but some of them have none. Layer I: Mixed material belonging to PPN, Middle Age modern era. This layer contains no architectural remains [Dietrich et al. 2013:36].
Small Finds: Architecture: Although the site reports published at the end of the first two years of excavation at the site were not very comprehensive; the interesting structural elements found at the site indicate that this was more than an area with cult objects but an entire religious center. There are several large limestone hearths around the mound. Many structural elements have been found in situ in these hearths. The largest of these is a T-shaped; 7x3x1 m large limestone stele. Another stele in the southeastern flanks of the mound is 3x3x1 m in size. The purpose of the hollow structural elements carved into the limestone has not been understood. A lion stele has been placed directly on the limestone in an area that has been categorized as a atelier/workshop. There are two large T-shaped stele on the southern side of the mound. It has been determined that the Neolithic walls exposed in the nearby trench were built in a later period [Schmidt 1996:3]. The stone walled; terrazzo floored structures with orthostats and four phases of use show close affinity with the houses at Nevali Çori in terms of plan and architectural elements. Perhaps they also have the same function and this is a temple as well. Low benches have been lined along the walls of the temple. The bedrock was smoothed and prepared prior to the laying down the terrazzo floors. Two oval rooms were found carved two meters into bedrock. One of these oval rooms has five steps leading down to a conical 80 cm high altar [Schmidt 1995:9]. Due to the statical problems of the 4 to 5 m high profiles in most of the trenches the campaign of 2004 was concentrated on the enlargement of the excavation area in order to remove the high balks. In the new trenches east of the previous excavations several structures with curvolinear walls; their character as part of round houses; probably of PPNA date; has to be investigated in the foolwing seasons [Schmidt 2006:344]. The work done in 2005 was concentrated on the main excavation area on the southern slope of the mound. Layer III contains the most important excavated structures at Göbekli Tepe. The megalithic pillars stand 3 to 5 m high; that weigh up to 10 tons; and have been positioned in a symmetrical arrangement. Until 2005; four enclosures with 43 pillars have been discovered in situ. They have been arranged purposefully to delineate round and oval structures. In each of these enclosures the ritual space is delineated by up to twelve pillars; which are interconnected by walls and stone benches. The central part of each enclosure is dominated by two freestanding pillars. As a rule these pillars are larger than the surrounding pillars; and of a superior quality; e.g.; their surface is extremely well prepared and they are always decorated with figurations. Sometimes; arms; hands; and fingers had been depicted. It is clear that all the pillars clearly have an anthropomorphic meaning: The horizontal and vertical parts respectively being the head; and the body of human like beings. The anthropomorphic meaning of the pillars makes it possible to recognize left and right; the frontal face; and the back. On some of the pillars; the presence of parallel lines can be noted on the frontal part; on the stomach; a pattern probably referring to some kind of clothing [Schmidt 2007:98]. Several structures of layer II with rectangular rooms and terrazzo floors had been found as expected as the terrace wall known from the western and the northern part of the excavation area continued in the new trenches in the east; split in several phases; turning now to the south [Schmidt 2007: 98]. At the terrazzo floor of one of the rectangular rooms of layer II a plate made of limestone had been found. A small channel is leading from the rim to the center of the plate. Such plates had been called offering plates in former seasons; when several examples had been found on the surface of the mound. A very large offering plate of the same type had been discovered in situ in the terrazzo floor in front of pillar 9 in enclosure B [Schmidt 2007:99]. As 2006 annual research program the goal was determined as completely unearthing the four large circular planned buildings (A; B; C; D). The first building finds were found underneath the surface soil at the Trench L9-57 which were researched for the first time in 2006; a rectangular planned room was found in the southwest of the area. The building was constructed in east-west direction. The selection of the direction and its edges which are approximately 4 m long; the fact that it was built smaller than the Early Phase Göbekli Tepe buildings; are the characteristics that match the upper phase architecture found inside the trenches L9-55 and L9-56 which were opened earlier. A series of horizontal; large size stone plates were found placed on the walls of the building which gives the impression of an oval plan in the eastern half of the trench. There are reliefs on two plates in the center. The smaller plate bears a big snake motif; the reliefs on the other plate are unidentifiable. Based on the finds revealed it definitely was not the burial room of the building; but its function could not be ientified [Schmidt 2008.418-419]. Buildings were found immediately below the ground level inside the trench K9-87 during the researches performed in 2007. A building composed of walls that extend in curvilinear lines from east towards the west, surrounding the entire area was found. Angled and curvilinear planned courses of walls were also found immediately after the surface level in trench L9-17. These walls delimit the buildings that are mostly located in east-wes direction. The wall traces of a round planned building are observed particularly in the northeastern section. There is a rectangular planned building in the south of the area. A round planned building remain with a diameter of 1 m was encountered in the northwest section of trench L9-58. The surrounding building walls were composed with stone plates placed in vertical order. L9-59 trench contains a bench approximately 15 cm in height and terrazzo floor remains. Trench L9-60 contains a rectangular planned building that lies towards southeast direction in the north half of the trench [Schmidt 2009:165-168]. In 2008 a unique round structure was found and was named "building F". One of the most remarkable characteristics of this structure the direction of the two central obelisks. Unlike the others that point in southeast direction, these point in southwest direction[Schmidt 2010:243]. In 2008 the excavations yielded a canal-like structure which is unique, between two obelisks at trench L9-48, during the excavations around D structure. The basis of this structure was built with an inclination from east towards the west, this usually serves for helping the liquids or sand to enter the building [Schmidt 2010:247]. Building C's floor level was reached in 2008. This basis was not finished with terrazzo floor as expected but it was formed straight onto the bedrock. This has similarities with the rock altar named structure E that was found in 1995 [Schmidt 2010:249]. During the 2012 excavation campaign, a staircase with 8 stairs was found in Enclosure C. The soundings located adjacent to Enclosure C and D yielded charred botanical remains, a first time at Göbekli Tepe [Dietrich et al. 2014]. Chipped Stone: Most of the surface finds collected during the survey are made of a grayish ash colored; good quality limestone. The finds collected during the survey suggest that amorphous and pyramidal cores were used in the first stage of tool production. Core revival plates and crested blades have been found. Blades comprise a quarter of the tools. The number of blades that may have functioned as sickles is very few. Other tools include scrapers; burins and backed blades [Benedict 1980:139-140]. Helwan and Nemrik points are among the finds. The analysis of the chipped stone tools during the 1995-1996 seasons suggests that they are PPNB; Aceramic Neolithic B in date. Bipolar discoid cores are the preferred in tool production [Schmidt 1995:9;1996:3]. Ground Stone: In addition to surface finds including basalt chopping tools; mortars; grinding stones; the excavation yielded incised stone bowl fragments and other limestone finds. West of the site; a basalt dike within the limestone outcrop must have been a sufficient place to obtain raw materials. Among the finds; some worked flat stone slabs and figurine fragments are worth noting. A raised reptile; probably an alligator figure; has been carved into one of the stone slabs. This reptilic animal; which has pronounced teeth; probably had a religious function. A figurine with an erect male organ is among the 1995 finds. A stone sculpture fragment found among a pile of rocks during the 1996 excavations had a human face carved into it; slightly larger than human-size. Carved into the bedrock are three phallic symbols; one human head and some bird and lion-like animal figures. The relief on the pillar may be one of the earliest examples of monsters in prehistoric art. The interpretation of the image from Göbekli Tepe may not been ascertained yet since; according to the previous data no monsters had been born yet; and most of the reliefs of the pillar are still unknown. It would change the complete status of the art we know if the lion on pillar 43 really would be a monster with three mouths [Schmidt 2007:102]. Laser scanning techniques were applied on some of the pillars for the first time in Göbekli Tepe in the 2005 campaign [Schmidt 2007:103]. An assemblage was unearthed that represents the first specimens found on the platform that was carved on the bedrock where the obelisk #35 rises around building C in 2008. The finds were all made of limestone, they consist of two large flat plate formed stone vessels with a hole in the center, a spheric stone vessel and an animal statue [Schmidt 2010:250]. Mine/Hearth: The approximately 1 km long limestone plateau where the Göbekli Tepe settlement which is 300x300 m in dimensions lies, contains Neolithic Age quarries and workshops related with Göbekli Tepe. Quarries that belong to the Roman Period settlement are located on the south border of the rocky plateau [Schmidt 2009:169-170]. Animal Remains: The researches in 2006 revealed that most of the bones were bird bone out of which 50% of the bones consisted of crow bones. Several mammals; gazelles; and wild asses were also found [http://cat.une.edu.au/page/gobekli%20tepe; 29.5.2008; 14:05]. No domesticized types were confronted. Those are mainly the animals that constitute the fauna of the Tigris-Euphrates region [Schmidt 2008:422]. The paleozoological researches performed on animal bones found at Göbekli Tepe were resumed and a wide range of animals from 12000 years before were identified. There were no domesticized animals among these species. Gazelles, cattle, onaga, great bustard were the mostly encountered remains of species whcih used to compose he fauna of Tigris-Euphrates region [Schmidt 2009:172]. Plant Remains: The accumulated soil on the T shaped obelisk numbered P43 contains highly carbonized organic finds found in 2006; were identified as Einkorn which is a type of wild wheat but there was no find that suggested the presence of a domesticated kind of wheat [Schmidt 2008:422]. The researches that were performed before 2007 suggested an entirely wild flora. Besides, due to the lack of hearths and fire places carbonized organic remains were very rare. A small amount of carbonized organic remains found in 2007 were observed as an important resource for the information to be obtained on the primary phases of the domestication of grain [Schmidt 2009:173]. Other: A T-shaped obelisk was found right below the surface soil during the researches performed in 2006 within the trench L9-57 that is similar to the examples observed at phase 2 in Göbekli Tepe. Another T-shaped obelisk was found in one of the rooms that is located in the western half of the trench L9-60. This obelisk was identified as the first obelisk observed at the western border of the southeastern hill of Göbekli Tepe after the building with the Lion stele and the structure containing four obelisks at trench L9-80. When the previously only partially revealed obelisk number P43 was completely unearthed in 2005 one of the best preserved; most important; richly decorated and skillfully made reliefs bearing new symbolic elements was found. The composition on the obelisk made with relief technique was made by spreading the figures on a wide surface; aiming to cover all the empty spaces. The dominant figure is the vulture relief that looks towards the building D. The figure is not only impressive due to its size but also the positioning of its wings which were described in open condition. The right wing may be pointing at a circular form too. There is another bird figure on the right side of the vulture; which was described with long; stretching legs. In addition to this a snake figure and a letter H or a form that looks like the letter H is observed. There is also an animal description underneath the bird with the stretched legs which gives the impression of a baby bird. A series of geometric shapes consisting of squares and triangles were drawn over the vulture motif. There are three objects with corners over the band of these geometric figures and above those there is another band relief that curles. There is a small animal relief over each square object. Underneath the T shaped head of the obelisk there are other large size figures. The first one of these; is the figure of a large scorpion which was described in realistic style including all detail. On the left of the scorpion figure there are snake and fox figures in the section that leans against the circular wall that surrounds the D structure of the obelisk; with some partially among the stones of the wall. Underneath the scorpion figure the head and neck of a big bird motif is visible. On the right side of this bird motif there is another important motif which can noýt be seen as a whole or completely due to the destructed condition of its edge. The figure actually describes a decapitated human being raising his arms. The obelisk was supported by a stone bench at the bottom of the human figure [Schmidt 2008:420-421]. The campaign was broadened through eight new trenches in 2007 lined in east-west direction on southwest hill in addition to the researches on previously initialized locations. The most intriguing find inside the trench K9-77 was the obelisk enumerated XXIII. The traces of a figure made in relief technique on the upper right surface of this obelisk is visible on the surface. Although the figure could not be interpreted, thanks to this figure, the observation and determination, that the figures on the T-shaped head sections of the obelisks are always on the right side was repeated once more. Other obelisks enumerated XXIV, XXV and XXVI were found inside the building in trench K9-87 which is located in the east of this trench. No extraordinary finding was unveiled on the obelisk with the number XXIV. The obelisk XXV was found in three pieces. A new type of stola decoration is observed on the front surface of the obelisk. It contins a figurative relief on the rear surface. In this figure a man was depicted as the façade. The arms of the man were depicted as straight and stiff extensions in parallel with the body on both sides without imposing any movement. The legs were also depicted straight and stiff extensions at knee level on the figure. On another fragment of the obelisk the scene continues with the depiction of a dog-like animal. This composition is the first specimen of its kind found at Göbeklitepe. The body of the obelisk enumerated XXVI was found in situ at the level of the rear side of the T-shaped head part of the obelisk. A large portion of the head section is missing but there is a figure in V form in the front surface of the lower body. Since this figure is similar to the specimens found at Nevali Çori it was named after. The obelisk enumerated XXVII was found inside trench L9-07, the ones enumerated XXVIII and XXIX were unearthed inside trenches L9-17. The top portions of obelisks XXVIII and XXIX are broken and their bodies were foundin situ. The stola motif composed with vertical bands named arm descriptions, previously encountered in Nevali Çori campaign, are on the side surfaces of both obelisks. L9-37 contained the obelisks XXX, XXXI, XXXII and XXXIII. The obelisk lacking any descriptions found inside trench L9-58 in the south of the site was numbered XXII. The top portion of the obelisk XX found inside the trench L9-60 was broken. Vertical bands composing the stola motifs are visible on the side of the body. The top of the obelisk XXI was found broken next to the body of the obelisk in east direction. The obelisk 43 found in trench L9-68 was built without a description on the top section. A stone ring was found in two pieces but easily reconstructable inside the west half of the deposit inside trench L9-47. The function of this group of finds which have specimens only at Göbekli Tepe among other Neolithic Period Upper Mesopotamia settlements, is yet to find out. The utilization of similar finds in the Columbus Period Mesoamerican culture is not very helpful for the interpretation of similar artifacts' functions found at Göbekli Tepe [Schmidt 2009:165-169]. Twenty-two T-shaped obelisks were found anew in 2008. The obelisks in building F were enumerated between XXIII and XXVI and from XXXIV to XXXVII. Many obelisks have hand and arm motives on them. Obelisk#XXXIV have an additional wild boar motif made by chiseling. Right below this the head of the vulture embossment is visible. On one of the stone plates that encompass the inside of this structure a human motif was found [Schmidt 2010:243-245]. Besides these in 2008 a statue was found intact inside the deposit soil in the northeast of trench L9-17. With it 66 cm height it is categorized along with middle size statues group. The statue depicts a human in standing position, with arms in the center of the body and hand palms facing. The ellbows arein distress pointing towards the back of the body. Open mouth and eyes looking upwards are remarkable. Genitals are not apparent, but the depiction on the face backs the assumption that the statue belongs to a man [Schmidt 2010:246]. In 2008 obelisks were unearthed in building C. There are two fox embossments on obelisk #37 and another embossment on obelisk #35 which is assumed to be a lion. Two abstract symbols were made on the narrow façade of the obelisk #39. The fact that the symbol H that constitutes the first motif was depicted by using two semi-circular shapes is a first in terms of combination of symbols. The second motif located right below this is the upside down, 90 degree rotated H symbol, which is often observed at Göbekli Tepe. There is also a wild boar statue at this location. It was elaborately formed with very impressive mimics. Its enormous body was shown in details. There are also embossments of two cranes and a wild boar on the right surface of obelisk 36. This is the first that contains bird and wild animal motifs. The fox on the wide left surface of obelisk #24 was chisel decorated [Schmidt 2010:249-252]. During the excavations held in 2009 it is observed that the arm motives on the obelisque bodies continued and combined with hand motives in Building D. However a new finding is encountered below the hands: A belt-like motive covering the body is observed on both obelisques. Below the belt-like motive a piece of cloth which can be described as a waist cloth is observed. This piece of cloth is shown as a fur and the organs specifying the gender are covered with it. While only the belt and its buckle are drawn on Obelisque 31, the belt contains some symbols of H-form and C-form on Obelisque 18. Another group of reliefs are encountered on the South edge of the basis of Obelisque 18 which is sculptured out of the main rock. Five widgeon reliefs flying from East to West are unearthed at this point. The main rock level is reached in the Southwest sector of Building D, in front of the Obelisque 38. It is determined that the Obelisque 38 and the internal wall of Building D is placed on a 10 cm high podium-like field built on the main rock. A stone bank exists in the South of Obelisque 38 built adjacent to the wall and covered up with a large rock plate [Schmidt 2011: 214-215]. In 2009 it is found out that the group of cisterns carved into the main rock were used during Neolithic Period for collecting the rain water [Schmidt 2011: 217]. In 2010, it was discovered that two obelisks which are over 5 m height were superficiallyplacedin their bases in Structure D. As opposed to the ones in Structure C, in this structure the basis were formed only at the depth of 15 cm. Two fragments of statuettes were found in the deposit on the east of the obelisk numbered P31. Both of them are the depictions of human head and large scaled. Underneath the T shaped head of the obelisk numbered P42, there is a snake relief. The snake's head was depicted as it moves towards the bottom of the body of the obelisk. A widgeon-like bird motif was found under the snake's head. The obelisk was embedded at the level where the motifs located inside the walls inside of the structure. Another special find found in this area, is an intact tailbone of a fox. A large limestone slab was found inside the deposit on the north of the central obelisk numbered P18. After the examination of the reliefs which were made on the slab, it has been seen that the depicted scene was dominated by striped hyena. The lower body of a new obelisk was found in Trench L9-76. Another example for the assemblage called "entrance hole-the obelisk base", was discovered in Trench L9-67 and it was placed vertically on the wall. In Trench L9-49, the room fill of a rectangular planned space was reached. The limestone totem that bears composite figures was recovered inside the wall masonry and it is 1.87 m long and 38 cm wide. The excavations were conducted in 8 new trenches on the south of the trenches on the northwestern slope. The first architectural remains were encountered in Trench K10-54. A large scaled obelisk was found on the east of Trench K10-25. The T shaped head of this obelisk numbered P51 is about 2 m long. It was found as leans towards the east direction. The body of the obelisk is 1.25 wide and 50 cm thick. There is a stola motif on its side. Because of the size of the obelisk, it has been suggested that it was the central obelisk of one of the large round structures [Schmidt 2012:322-327]. In 2011, the pedestal of P18 was completely exposed. So that the number of the animals in relief increased to 7. The studies that were conducted in 7 trenches in 2010 were continued and the eighth trench was opened. The pillars that belong to two different structure and other features were exposed. This pillar was numbered as P54. In the north profile, another small remarkable pillar was found. An in situ pillar was recovered 50 cm below the surface on the northwest section of the trench. This pillar is named as P56. A ram head can be seen on the front section of the pillar. There are short, moving snake reliefs on the both sides of the ram head. The heads of these snakes are placed as facing one another under the ram/bull head. A relief decoration that gives the impression of horror vacui (fear of empty spaces) was encountered on the body and the head of the pillar P56.
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: Analysis of the chipped stone assemblage at the site of Göbekli; which is believed to have been a religious center; determined that the site is Early and Middle Aceramic Neolithic in date. Approximate dates are 10;500-8;600 BP [Schmidt 1995:9]. Although the date of the earliest habitation is not certain; the last habitation was certainly prior to the Ceramic Neolithic Period. The few sherds collected during the surface survey have not been assigned to a period. Future excavations should clarify this issue. Another unanswered question is whether the site of Gürcütepe (10 km away) is contemporaneous with this site. The site of Göbekli Tepe with its many sacred elements appears to be one of the largest religious centers in the area. Göbekli Tepe was not a settlement; it is a site obviously mainly for ritual purposes. The main characteristics are the anthropomorphic megalithic pillars. No doubt the amount of time; energy; craftmanship; and man-power necessary for the construction of megalithic structures is indicative of a social organisation; and division of labor [Schmidt 2007:103]. Supporting data was obtained for the thesis claiming that Göbekli Tepe was a certain meeting location formed by the cult structures along with the obelisks found during the excavations in 2006 [Schmidt 2008: 419]. As a result of the X-Ray analysis performed on the obsidian specimens that were sent to Louvre Museum of France, the material's origin was identified as Cappadoce [Schmidt 2010:253].


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