Structure AB
The Pillar Shrine
A semi-subterranean chamber with 11 T-shaped pillars arranged around a central figure — unlike anything found at Göbekli Tepe or elsewhere.
Explore →Pre-Pottery Neolithic · ~9600 BCE
Karahantepe
Göbekli Tepe rewrote human history. Karahan Tepe may rewrite it again.
I was guiding visitors here before the gates officially opened — and what we are finding beneath this hillside is unlike anything the ancient world has shown us before.
What is Karahantepe?
Karahantepe is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic archaeological site located near the village of Keçili, approximately 46 km southeast of Şanlıurfa in southeastern Turkey. Roughly contemporary with Göbekli Tepe — and part of the same Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) network — it is transforming our understanding of what early human societies were capable of, thousands of years before agriculture.
~11,000
Years Old
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A/B
35 km
From Göbekli Tepe
Same cultural network
250+
T-Shaped Pillars
Discovered across the site
UNESCO
Tentative List
World Heritage candidate
Remarkable Discoveries
Three finds that have placed Karahantepe alongside Göbekli Tepe as one of the most significant archaeological sites of the 21st century.
Sculptures
The Carved Heads
Extraordinary carved human heads with detailed facial features — among the earliest known realistic depictions of the human face.
Explore →
Symbolism
Human Figures
Realistic human figures, portraits and reliefs carved into pillars and walls — among the most detailed known examples from the Neolithic period.
Explore →From Construction to Discovery
11,000 years of history — from the Neolithic builders who raised these pillars to the archaeologists uncovering them today.
Sister Site
Explore Göbekli Tepe
35 km away, the world-famous Göbekli Tepe rewrote everything we thought about prehistory. Discover the full story of the oldest known monumental sanctuary on our companion site.
Plan Your Visit
See It for Yourself
Karahantepe is open to visitors year-round. Whether you're arriving independently from Şanlıurfa or joining a guided archaeology tour, the site rewards every traveller who makes the journey across the steppe.
We recommend combining Karahantepe with Göbekli Tepe and the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum for the fullest experience of the Taş Tepeler landscape.
Latest from the Blog
Analysis, news, and long-form explorations of Karahantepe and the Neolithic world.
Archaeology
Karahan Tepe and the World: Surprising Global Parallels
From Peruvian petroglyphs to Indonesian stone figures, Karahan Tepe's symbolism echoes across ancient cultures worldwide.
Read article →Archaeology
Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum: Essential Before Karahan Tepe
The Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum houses the world's finest Neolithic collection. Why you should visit before Karahan Tepe.
Read article →Archaeology
Snakes, Lions, and Foxes: Animal Carvings at Karahan Tepe
Snake reliefs dominate Karahan Tepe's pillars, but lions, foxes, and gazelles appear too. Explore the animal symbolism.
Read article →