Of these mysterious mounds, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Göbeklitepe was the first in a line of historical discoveries. Excavated in the mid 1990’s, it was thought to hold the oldest known examples of architecture on Earth, preceding the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by several thousand years.
With less than 10% of Göbeklitepe having been uncovered, visitors can watch on as archaeologists continue to dig into a world of buried secrets. Those that have reached the surface, however, offer an opportunity to experience an ancient reality.
Observe the T-shaped limestone pillars that measure five meters tall and weigh up to 15 tons. Erected in several circular enclosures and engraved with images of nature, these monumental structures are indicative of the agricultural lifestyle of Neolithic settlers. Not seen anywhere else in the world, historians believe them to be the very first communal buildings for social events and rituals.
