Ancient site · Megalith

Göbekli Tepe

A hilltop in southeastern Turkey where people built round enclosures of huge T-shaped limestone pillars, the tallest about 5 m high, about 11,500 years ago, among the oldest known megaliths. Many pillars are carved with foxes, boars, snakes and vultures, and some have arms and belts, suggesting stylised humans.

First seen as a temple used by roaming hunters, it is now known to have had houses, cisterns and heavy cereal processing. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Dates

c. 9500–8000 BCE

Still standing

Yes

UNESCO World Heritage

Yes

Location

37.22° N, 38.92° E