Journal
In-depth articles on Karahantepe — archaeology, subterranean chambers, Neolithic discoveries, and visiting guides.
discoveries
The Karahan Tepe Sitting Man: Oldest Realistic Human Sculpture
The Sitting Man at Karahan Tepe is a 2.3-meter sculpture with visible ribcage dating to 9,600 BCE. Explore its meaning.
Karahan Tepe and the World: Surprising Global Parallels
From Peruvian petroglyphs to Indonesian stone figures, Karahan Tepe's symbolism echoes across ancient cultures worldwide.
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.
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.
Wildlife of the Neolithic: Animals and Plants Around Karahan Tepe
Discover the rich ecosystem that surrounded Karahan Tepe's builders — from wild gazelles and aurochs to einkorn wheat.
The Landscape That Shaped Karahan Tepe
How did the geography, climate, and terrain of the Tektek Mountains influence the builders of Karahan Tepe?
Karahan Tepe: A Temple of the Stars?
Explore the evidence for astronomical alignments at Karahan Tepe — from stone avenues to mysterious cup marks on bedrock.
Structure AB and the Tree of Life: Karahan Tepe's Deepest Mystery
Could an 11,000-year-old structure at Karahan Tepe mirror the Kabbalistic Tree of Life? Explore the striking parallels.
Karahan Tepe's Winter Solstice: 7,000 Years Before Stonehenge
Karahan Tepe's Structure AB contains the oldest known winter solstice alignment on Earth, dating to 9,000 BCE.
Karahan Tepe's Three Rooms: The Great Ellipse, the Pillars Shrine, and the Pit Shrine
Inside Karahan Tepe's three rock-cut chambers — the Great Ellipse with stone thrones, the Pillars Shrine with a giant head, and the Pit Shrine.