Karahantepe: One of the Most Significant Discovery and Research Projects of 2023

Karahantepe, one of the oldest Neolithic sites in the world, has garnered global attention due to its archaeological findings. As part of the "Tas Tepeler" project, it is among the sites that enable a deeper understanding of prehistory. Consequently, Karahantepe was recognised at the Shanghai Archaeological Forum as one of the nine most important projects for "Field Research and Exploration" in 2023.

The Shanghai Archaeological Forum is a significant academic platform that supports archaeological studies at an international level. Karahantepe was chosen among the nine most significant projects of the forum in the "Field Research and Exploration" category, highlighting the intensive archaeological work in Turkiye and the success of its excavations. These nine projects were selected from 973 reviews submitted by participants from 32 countries.

Karahantepe: One of the Oldest Known Neolithic Sites in the World

The ongoing research in and around Sanliurfa, the southeastern Anatolian province of Turkiye, encompasses the sites of Sayburc, Sefertepe, Harbetsuvan Hill, Gurcutepe, Cakmaktepe, Medik, Kurttepesi, Taslitepe, Ayanlar, Yogunburc, and Yeni Mahalle, as well as Karahantepe and Gobeklitepe, the most famous settlements of the region, as part of the "Tas Tepeler" project.

Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe have attracted international archaeological attention with their latest discoveries, unearthed in October. Among these groundbreaking finds was the largest known human statue from this period, excavated at Karahantepe. A notable example of prehistoric art is the 2.45-meter-tall figure seated on a type of bench, likely representing a man. The seated position of the statue, with a realistic facial expression, while the emphasis on the shoulder bones and ribs suggests death. Next to the human figure was a lower ledge where stone slabs and a vulture statue were placed, indicating that the structure was built for special purposes.

During excavations conducted by Istanbul University on behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a life-sized limestone statue of a wild boar, dating from the same period as Karahantepe, was discovered in Structure D in Gobeklitepe. The wild boar, showing traces of red, white, and black pigments on its surface, is the first painted sculpture of its time to have survived to the present day. It was found on a bench decorated with an H-shaped symbol, a crescent moon, two snakes, and three human faces or masks. The archaeological site of Gobeklitepe, about 12 kilometres from the city centre of Sanliurfa, is one of the most significant testimonies to human history. Gobeklitepe is Turkiye's 18th UNESCO World Heritage site and has significantly altered perceptions of hunter-gatherer societies like those in the Neolithic era.

Sustainable Cultural Heritage

With numerous archaeological excavation and restoration projects to ensure the sustainability of cultural heritage, Turkiye is a global leader in this field. By the end of this month, the number of projects in the country is expected to reach 750. Turkiye already has 21 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list and has added the ancient city of Gordion in the province of Ankara and the medieval wooden hypostyle mosques of Anatolia this year. Recently, five new Turkish cultural treasures were included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, bringing the total number of elements of the intangible cultural heritage of the country registered by UNESCO to thirty.