Paint pigments found on Göbekli Tepe pillars and statue. A wild boar statue found at Göbekli Tepe was found to have white, red, and black color pigments, making it the oldest painted statue ever discovered Paint pigments have also been found on standing stones and pillars of communal buildings - the first time this has been reported What is seen today is beige limestone, but settlements may have been places of vivid color
Göbekli Tepe's famous wild boar statue was painted white, red, and black — researchers detected pigment residues on its surface, making it the first-known painted statue from the Neolithic period. The tongue was colored red, with black and white pigment found elsewhere on its body. What is seen today is beige limestone, but the site may have been a place of vivid color in its time. This discovery challenges assumptions about pre-Pottery Neolithic art.
Key Facts
- A wild boar statue found at Göbekli Tepe was found to have white, red, and black color pigments, making it the oldest painted statue ever discovered
- Paint pigments have also been found on standing stones and pillars of communal buildings - the first time this has been reported
- What is seen today is beige limestone, but settlements may have been places of vivid color
- This discovery changes the perception of pre-Pottery Neolithic art and architecture
Related site: Göbekli Tepe — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: NEW | Göbekli Tepe's BIGGEST Enclosure to be Excavated + Major NEW Discoveries! by Ancient Architects