Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site in southeastern Turkey that contains the world’s oldest known temple, dating back over 11,000 years. This ancient site has captured the imagination of researchers and the public alike, but where exactly is Göbekli Tepe located in Turkey?
In this article we will examine Göbekli Tepe’s geographical location and placement within Turkey to understand its significance as one of humanity’s first sacred gathering places.
An Overview of Göbekli Tepe
Before diving into the specifics of where Göbekli Tepe is situated let’s first understand what this site is. Göbekli Tepe is composed of several stone circles, each containing towering T-shaped limestone pillars that are decorated with intricate carvings of animals and abstract symbols.
The tallest of these pillars reach over 16 feet high and weigh up to 50 tons Overall, there are 20 circles found at the site so far, with diameters ranging from 30 to 100 feet across Based on radiocarbon dating, the oldest parts of Göbekli Tepe were constructed in approximately 9600 BC during the Neolithic period.
This date puts Göbekli Tepe even earlier than the Egyptian pyramids or Stonehenge in England. In fact, Göbekli Tepe contains the oldest monumental architecture discovered anywhere to date. For this reason, it has profoundly transformed our understanding of early human civilizations.
The site would have required a huge coordinated effort to construct, hinting at surprising social organization and the existence of a religious class among prehistoric hunter-gatherers. Overall, Göbekli Tepe serves as evidence that monumental architecture emerged before the advent of settlement life or agriculture.
Pinpointing Göbekli Tepe’s Location in Turkey
Now that we comprehend the significance of Göbekli Tepe, where exactly can it be found within Turkey? Göbekli Tepe is located in the Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, around 15 kilometers northeast of the modern city of Şanlıurfa (Urfa).
More precisely, the ancient circles rest atop a ridge overlooking the Harran Plain, with the highest point of the mound rising only 15 meters above the surrounding landscape. This prominence gives the site its Turkish name, which translates to “potbelly hill.”
The coordinates of Göbekli Tepe are 37°13′N 38°55′E, or 37.217°N 38.917°E. The site lies only about 15 kilometers away from the Turkish-Syrian border as the crow flies. This places Göbekli Tepe close to the Fertile Crescent area where agriculture first emerged in the Middle East.
Why Göbekli Tepe’s Location Matters
Göbekli Tepe’s geographical location within Turkey and the Middle East is relevant for several reasons. First, its proximity to sites like Nevalı Çori and Cafer Höyük, which also contain T-shaped monoliths, suggests cultural connections across a broad region in Upper Mesopotamia.
Second, Göbekli Tepe sits in an area suitable for early farming experiments. Wild strains of wheat still grow nearby, underlining how Göbekli Tepe’s builders were likely just on the cusp of major social changes brought about by domesticating plants and animals.
Finally, placement on an easily accessed ridge made Göbekli Tepe well positioned to attract worshipers from across the landscape. Evidence indicates people hosted festive gatherings at the site, perhaps tied to important events like equinoxes. Placement on the ridge would have made Göbekli Tepe visible and recognizable to these visiting pilgrims.
Accessing Göbekli Tepe as a Tourist Today
Luckily for history enthusiasts, Göbekli Tepe is open to visitors in the present day. To reach Göbekli Tepe, most travelers pass through Şanlıurfa, which contains the region’s largest airport and acts as a transportation hub.
Şanlıurfa is located along the Göbekli Tepe tourism trail within Turkey. From Şanlıurfa, Göbekli Tepe can be reached via taxi or tour group in under an hour.
For those visiting from outside Turkey, Göbekli Tepe can be reached by flying into Şanlıurfa GAP Airport and arranging ground transportation to the site. There are also direct buses running to Şanlıurfa from major cities like Istanbul and Ankara.
With its convenient location and growing fame, Göbekli Tepe has become a popular addition to many travelers’ Turkey itineraries. A trip to southeastern Turkey isn’t complete without visiting the hilltop circles of the world’s oldest temple.
The Takeaway on Göbekli Tepe’s Whereabouts
Today, Göbekli Tepe’s placement continues to draw visitors from across Turkey and abroad who come to experience this marvel of prehistoric engineering firsthand. By journeying to Göbekli Tepe, we can gain insight into the lives and beliefs of some of the world’s earliest monument builders.
How Old Is Göbekli Tepe?
Göbekli Tepe was occupied by humans as far back as 11,000 BCE. However, not all of the complex structures date to such early times. The site was likely occupied at its peak between 9,600 BCE and 8,200 BCE. Different parts and depths of Göbekli Tepe date to different time periods. The final building phases of Göbekli Tepe took place around 8000 BCE. Archeologists and excavators are confident in their dating because the people who built Göbekli Tepe seem to have deliberately buried the site and structures with mountains of dirt and sediment. This is why the site is so well preserved; its deliberate burial also allowed for accurate radiocarbon dating because of the lack of carbon contamination from later time periods.
Architecture and Archeological Layers
The site of Göbekli Tepe has been excavated in layers, revealing different time periods of human activity. There are three main layers that have been partially excavated.
- Layer I is the uppermost layer and the youngest. At the end of the period of its use, around 8,000 BCE, the site was deliberately buried by its inhabitants under 300 to 500 cubic meters of debris.
- Layer II marks the time period when the circular enclosures were finished and were at their peak of use. Additional rectangular rooms and buildings were added during this time period. This layer dates between 8,800 BCE and 8,000 BCE.
- Layer III represents the earliest phase of Göbekli Tepes human activity and marks the time when the circular compounds and T-shaped megaliths first begin to appear, along with the oldest floors made of terrazzo and bedrock. This period dates to 9,600 BCE.
Göbekli Tepe: The Place That Rewrote History
FAQ
Which town is near to Göbekli Tepe?
What region of Turkey is Göbekli Tepe?
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Location
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Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey
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Region
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Southeastern Anatolia
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Coordinates
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37°13′25″N 38°55′18″E
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Type
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Settlement
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History
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Is it possible to visit Göbekli Tepe?
Is Göbekli Tepe near Istanbul?
Where is Göbekli Tepe?
With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month. “Göbekli Tepe” (“Hill with a Navel”, or “Potbelly Hill”) is found approximately 16 km (10 miles) northeast of Şanlıurfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey once named “Edessa” and known as “the City of the Prophets”.
When was Göbekli Tepe built?
Göbekli Tepe ( Turkish: [ɟœbecˈli teˈpe], [ 2] ‘Potbelly Hill’; [ 3] Kurdish: Girê Mirazan or Xerabreşkê, ‘Wish Hill’ [ 4]) is a Neolithic archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The settlement was inhabited from around 9500 BCE to at least 8000 BCE, [ 5] during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic.
How far is Gobekli Tepe from Istanbul?
If you’re coming from Istanbul, it’s about a five-hour drive. Renting a car in Turkey is an affordable option. You can also take a bus or catch a flight (with this promo code: TP-369698 which offers you %10 discount) into the nearby city of Sanliurfa and then take a taxi to Gobekli Tepe .
Is Gobekli Tepe a World Heritage Site?
In 2018, Gobekli Tepe was added to the Unesco World Heritage register, and Turkish tourism officials declared 2019 the “Year of Gobekli Tepe”, making the ancient site the face of its global promotion campaign.