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January 21, 2006
Oldest Temple Found on Göbekli Hill in Turkey?
Boy, here's one where you really want a lot more information. An English language Turkish newspaper, Turkish Daily News, reports on a story in a German paper, Die Welt, basis on an Anatolia News Agency press release that a 12,000 year old temple was found in Şanlıurfa in Turkey. Now that's a round about way to get your Turkish news.
Anyway, the article says in part,
According to an article titled “Holy Hill of the Hunters,” the temple was discovered by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, standing around 15 meters in height and located on a hill upon which a single tree stands.[snip]
It also made reference to stone figures and columns discovered at the excavation site, suggesting that hundreds of people had worked to transport and erect the columns. The grassy knolls around the site suggest that the locals hunted and farmed in olden times.
The shape and style of the temple also revealed that talented craftsmen had worked on its design and construction, said the article.
On what basis is this building a temple and not an elaborate town house or palace? Nothing is said in the article about an altar or artifacts of uniquely recital use. Old and ornate does not necessarily signify a temple. And of course not finding (or reporting) an altar, etc. does not necessarily indicate that it was a secular building either. In fact, throughout much of the ancient world it is to make a demarcation between a secular and religions use of anything.
By the way, I couldn't find the Die Welt article.
Posted by Duane Smith at January 21, 2006 10:31 AM | Read more on Archaeology |
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Comments
I did some googling & found this book in German just published apparently:
http://www.dainst.org/index_6388_en.html
Göbekli Tepe (Hill) is being excavated by the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul:
http://www.dainst.org/mitarbeiter_liste.php?abt=257
Posted by: Aydin at January 24, 2006 5:37 AM
The blurb for the book Aydin mentions does seem to support the possibility that this is really a temple and not some other type of monumental public or private building.
Posted by: Duane at January 24, 2006 7:05 AM
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