Klaus Schmidt began systematically excavating Göbekli Tepe in 1995, after the 1992 discussion Schoch refers to. His early chronology put the major building phases broadly around 10,000–8,000 BCE. Schoch argues that broken pillars were hastily re-erected, braced with stones and packed secondary walls, and reads this as catastrophic disturbance. He also argues that the abandoned enclosures were deliberately backfilled, helping create the artificial mound. That backfilling happened in prehistory, not after Schmidt's excavation. His end-of-Ice-Age, 6,000-years-before-civilization and 12,000-years-pristine chronology remains contested. Fascinating, and still contested. 🪨
Schoch argues broken Göbekli Tepe pillars were re-erected before prehistoric backfilling
TürkiyeTheory
Key facts
- Klaus Schmidt began systematic excavation at Göbekli Tepe in 1995, after the 1992 discussion Schoch refers to; early reports placed the main building phases broadly around 10,000–8,000 BCE.
- Schoch interprets the broken pillars, supporting stones, and packed secondary walls as evidence of catastrophic disturbance and hasty re-erection; this is his interpretation, not an established excavation conclusion.
- Göbekli Tepe's abandoned enclosures were backfilled in prehistory, helping form its artificial mound. The backfilling did not occur after Schmidt's excavation.
- Schoch's end-of-Ice-Age timing, roughly 6,000-year gap before conventional accounts of civilization, and roughly 12,000-year pristine interval are his claims, not consensus archaeological conclusions.
Sources
Göbekli Tepe, Southeastern Turkey. A Preliminary Report ...academia.edu
Göbekli Tepe, Southeastern Turkey. A Preliminary Report on the 1995-1999 Excavations. Profile image of Klaus Schmidt Klaus Schmidt. descriptionSee full PDF
Göbekli Tepe excavator Klaus Schmidt passes awayarchaeology.wiki
In an interview of 2011, Schmidt revealed that roughly 5 percent of the site has been excavated. In 1995, Schmidt purchased a house in Şanlıurfa ...
Göbekli Tepe, Southeastern Turkey. A Preliminary Report ...persee.fr
by K Schmidt · 2000 · Cited by 387 — The 1998-1999 excavations were concentrated in the areas north of Structure A in Trenches L9-66/76. Pillars 6 to 9 were found in 1998, and Pillars 10, 14, 15 ...
Göbekli Tepe archaeological excavationsatlasanatolia.com
Klaus Schmidt of the German Archaeological Institute recognised T-shaped pillars as Pre-Pottery Neolithic architecture and opened systematic excavation in 1995.
(PDF) Göbekli Tepe – the Stone Age Sanctuaries. New ...researchgate.net
Göbekli Tepe – the Stone Age Sanctuaries. New results of ongoing excavations with a special focus on sculptures and high reliefs ; Urfa statue.
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