Göbekli Tepe: 11,000-year-old site only 10% excavated. Discovered by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt in the 1960s Dated back 11,000 years, making it one of the oldest known man-made structures Features multiple limestone T-pillars arranged in circles, standing up to 20 ft tall and weighing up to 10 tons

Göbekli Tepe dates back 11,000 years with T-pillars up to 20 ft tall carved with foxes, snakes, boars and birds. Only 10% excavated — researchers estimate 50+ years to complete. One of archaeology's greatest puzzles! 🏛️

Key facts:

- Noted by Turkish archaeologist B. K. Kökten in 1963; significance recognized by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt in 1994, with excavations beginning in 1995

- Dated back 11,000 years, making it one of the oldest known man-made structures

- Features multiple limestone T-pillars arranged in circles, standing up to 20 ft tall and weighing up to 10 tons

- Pillars carved with intricate reliefs of animals (foxes, snakes, boars, birds) and abstract symbols

- Current theory suggests built by hunter-gatherers before the advent of agriculture

Key Facts

  • Discovered by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt in the 1960s
  • Dated back 11,000 years, making it one of the oldest known man-made structures
  • Features multiple limestone T-pillars arranged in circles, standing up to 20 ft tall and weighing up to 10 tons
  • Pillars carved with intricate reliefs of animals (foxes, snakes, boars, birds) and abstract symbols
  • Current theory suggests built by hunter-gatherers before the advent of agriculture
  • Site believed to have been purposely buried around 7,000 BC
  • Only 10% excavated; predictions estimate 150 years to fully excavate

Related site: Göbekli Tepe — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.