The oldest known megaliths are part of the amazing Neolithic site Gobekli Tepe (Göbekli Tepe). The region is inhabited from c. 11,000 to c. 8000. The megaliths, stone work and surrounding constructions allow a look into the Neolithic Age cults, buildings and people.
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So far, excavations have uncovered 43 large megalithic pillars up to 5.5 m (18 ft) and 50 tons in weight. About 250 more, as well as various buildings, are indicated by geological media such as ground penetrating radar. About 5% of the site has been excavated.
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Gobekli Tepe has been closed to visitors until recently. It's open daily until 5 pm (1700h), with public viewing areas. The site is located in the Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills), in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains.
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Overlooking the Harran plain and headwaters of the Balikh River, a tributary of the Euphrates, Gobekli Tepe is a tell or artificial mound on a flat limestone plateau. Limestone is the rock primarily used for carving and building here.
At the quarry workers use tools of flint to cut through the limestone. The slabs are transported from bedrock pits approximately 100 m (330 ft) from the hilltop. These pillars are the oldest known megaliths in the world.
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Many of the colossal T-shaped pillars have stylized human arms and loincloths. Megalith creation and building construction at Gobekli Tepe begins about 9500 BCE, though use of the site may date earlier. The eight building phases are:
Phase 1: The earliest settlement phase in 10th millennium BCE, first versions of enclosures and round-oval domestic structures, signs of (semi) sedentary lifestyle. Circular compounds appear c. 9200 BCE.
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Ranging from 10 to 30 m (33 to 98 ft) in diameter, their most notable features are T-shaped limestone pillars evenly set within thick interior walls. The walls are of smaller stones.
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Phase 2: The early 9th millennium BCE sees significant modifications of design. New walls incorporate the first monolithic T-shaped pillars. The building of large structures escalates. Most are oval-round, though a rectangular floor plan begins to emerge.
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Phases 3–5
Rectangular houses are built on the northern and western slopes. They go through various construction phases, such as addition of benches with T-shaped pillars and new inner walls creating a more rectangular space.
The large enclosures are also modified. In this phase of construction walls are repaired and new ones built. Benches are used against interior walls.
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About 8500 BCE, a slope slide destroys low-lying structures, causing major damage to the main enclosure as it flushes sediments and domestic rubble downhill. After an attempt at rebuilding, a second major slide forces abandonment of the main enclosure.
Phases 6 and 7
Building activity gradually declines in the late 9th to early 8th millennium BCE. The "Lion Pillar Building" is erected. In the later period another terrace wall is built in an attempt to stabilize the north slope.
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The type of artwork as in the pillar above is more common to sites of settlement rather than transient populations. Tap click pic for a better look, and to visit the Göbekli Tepe Research Project website.
Phase 8: In the final occupation period, small habitations are built within the remains of the abandoned Neolithic settlement. Houses of the time might resemble those below, from Çatalhöyük (Catalhoyuk) c. 7400 BCE.
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Stones must be moved from nearby quarries about 100 m (338 ft). This is possible in various ways. Before the Panama canal, early ship builders create and cultivate a portage road along the 82 km (52 mi) stretch to move ships overland.
A causeway can be prepared with lime, packed sand or on bedrock, smooth and well flattened. Lime is slippery when wet and water dramatically reduces friction. Later, lime can be worked into the earth to increase soil fertility.
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Some neolithic groups and later ship-building cultures may try the log-rolling method. It's aided by watering the logs for natural lubrication. It's a lot of work, entailing a constant feed of logs at front of the block. Logs have to straight and consistent in size.
After the last ice age c. 10,000 BCE, global temperatures rise about 4-5 °C (7-9 °F). Lands now arid have wooded areas and trees. Trees which might be available for potential rock rolling in the Gobekli Tepe region c. 9500 include stone pine (Pinus pinea).
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Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) also grows in the area, as do yew (Taxus baccata) and Turkish pine (Pinus brutia). None of these are found in construction. Today's landscape is almost barren of trees. Fire places yield charred remnants of almond and pistachio wood.
Another method of moving megaliths comes from Scotland, handed down through generations. People lay seaweed in the path of stones, which are pulled using ropes, with little resistance. The feat is duplicated successfully by Scottish researchers.
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While seaweed isn't available in the landbound area of Gobekli Tepe, other materials can be used as a slightly warmer, damper climate promotes freshwater plant growth. Use of wading bird motifs suggests water proximity. Hand-carved cisterns also hold rainwater.
Other techniques for moving great stones include wetting sand in front of rocks and possible use of sleds or rockers, though these items aren't found at Gobekli Tepe. Again water acts as lubricant and wet sand doesn't pile up in front of the sled or stone like dry sand does.
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Floors of the oldest layers of the site are terrazzo, a conglomerate. Other floors are bedrock, with stone pedestals going back to c. 9000 BCE.
Full burials are lacking at Göbekli Tepe, though stelae suggest corpses left to scavengers. A small burial ground with mulberry tree is thought placed by pilgrims. Up to 700 human remains have been found.
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Special status of the human skull is evident at this site, indicating the presence of the Neolithic skull cult. Complex ritual behavior is revealed at Göbekli Tepe. Marks on three partial skulls indicate they were de-fleshed, modified, and even painted.
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