UNDERSTANDING GOBEKLİ TEPE

FORGET WHATEVER YOU KNOW!

 

Sacred place, temple, garden of heaven, ritual area or none of them... is it possible for Göbekli Tepe to tell the story of the dawn of civilization? According to recent research, Göbekli Tepe is an important keystone for us during an important phase of civilization. The reason for undertaking such an important task as excavating Göbekli Tepe is not only because of its gorgeous location but also due to the marvelous information that it provides to the world of archaeological science. Göbekli Tepe has an important position that allows us to find answers about the social relationships, belief systems, environmental conditions, communication systems, production and consumption, life-styles and technology of the people of the pre- Neolithic and Neolithic periods. The research at Göbekli Tepe, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last ten years, has been continued by the Göbekli Tepe team after the sudden passing of Prof. Klaus Schmidt, the discoverer and the excavation director of Göbekli Tepe.

 

Klaus had not discovered Göbekli Tepe by chance. He was a precious scholar who had worked in the region and at excavations such as Nevalı Çori, known as the predecessor of Göbekli Tepe, for more than 30 years. He knew what he had found when he discovered Göbekli Tepe.

 

Göbekli Tepe is the most charming archaeological site of the world today. It is a place that will break down the assumptions of hundreds of years and re-establish new paradigms by means of continuing research. Thus, we would like to memorialize Klaus, who left us more than one year ago. In order to understand Göbekli Tepe, we asked plenty of questions and tried to absorb the answers. We hope this issue about Göbekli Tepe will illuminate minds with its interesting results and questions of debate.

According to recent research, Göbekli Tepe is not really lonely; there are tens of similar settlements around it. This region will therefore also be a candidate for the most important archaeological tourism center in the coming years.