Ritual Statue Placement in Pre-Pottery Neolithic Sites. Archaeologist explains ritual as repeated action carrying cultural, social, spiritual, or religious significance Statues placed within walls is seen at multiple Pre-Pottery Neolithic sites, not just Göbekli Tepe At Nevalı Çori, statues were found embedded in benches, walls, and niches including birdman statues and snake heads
Statues in walls weren't unique to Göbekli Tepe. Nevalı Çori had birdman statues & snake heads in walls, benches & niches. Plastered human skulls under floors at various PPNB sites & in niches at Tel Ramad show this was a widespread Taş Tepeler tradition. 🗿🕊️
Key Facts
- Archaeologist explains ritual as repeated action carrying cultural, social, spiritual, or religious significance
- Statues placed within walls is seen at multiple Pre-Pottery Neolithic sites, not just Göbekli Tepe
- At Nevalı Çori, statues were found embedded in benches, walls, and niches including birdman statues and snake heads
- Carvings of human figures within walls found at Karahantepe and Çayburti
- Plastered human skulls deliberately buried beneath floors found at sites like Tel Ramad and Çayönü
- This represents ritualistic behavior seen across the wider Taş Teplar phenomenon
Related site: Göbekli Tepe — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: New Human Statue Discovered at Gobekli Tepe Raises Questions by DeDunking