Settlement discovered on hill above Göbekli Tepe temple. A settlement was discovered on the hill higher than the main Göbekli Tepe site Previously, it was thought nobody lived at Göbekli Tepe - only that it was a religious center Excavations revealed grinding bowls, cooking wear, and household items
The term 'hunter-gatherer' doesn't capture what the Tas Tepeler really were. Living in a lush environment with abundant food gave them time to specialize and develop almost everything we associate with civilization—except writing. These builders likely had language, philosophy, ethics, and complex cultural stories. And remarkably, within just 1000 years of Göbekli Tepe's construction, agriculture began in the region. That's a mind-blowing pace of change.
Key Facts
- A settlement was discovered on the hill higher than the main Göbekli Tepe site
- Previously, it was thought nobody lived at Göbekli Tepe - only that it was a religious center
- Excavations revealed grinding bowls, cooking wear, and household items
- The settlement dates are uncertain - older or younger than the temple itself is unknown
- Excavations began early this year and have already uncovered significant remains
Related site: Göbekli Tepe — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: There’s a Big Problem with Gobekli Tepe's "Simple" Hunter-Gatherers by Luke Caverns