If we were to reduce the beginning of our civilization to a single point, that point would undoubtedly be Göbeklitepe. Because, as we discussed in that video, Göbeklitepe represents the first steps taken by our hunter-gatherer ancestors from that period to transition from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle . That is why we call Göbeklitepe, which began to be built 11,600 years ago, the zero point of time. But what if the zero point of time didn't begin in a single place? What if we should say "zero points of time"? New studies suggest that Göbeklitepe may not be as isolated as we thought. It appears that our ancestors built numerous similar temples around Göbeklitepe. Did they build a shelter or something else? Because these structures, unlike Göbeklitepe which we will discuss today, are adorned with sculptures attributed directly to humans, not to animals or nature. For instance, unlike at Göbeklitepe, the archaeological site we'll be discussing today has unearthed a large number of human statues and numerous stalactites, each constructed to resemble a giant penis . Yes, I'm serious. And more importantly, unlike what happened at Göbeklitepe, the people of that period may have actually lived in this region year-round . If Göbeklitepe excites you, let me tell you, you haven't seen anything yet. Discover Karahantepe, one of the most magnificent archaeological mysteries of our time. Every great discovery begins with curious and trained eyes looking in the right place in the right way. In 1997, during cultural inventory studies in Southeastern Anatolia, Associate Professor Bahattin Çelik from Harran University noticed T-shaped standing stones protruding from the ground in the soil just 36 km southeast of Göbeklitepe in Karaantepe . As you may recall, these stones were also the ones that had been erupting from the ground at Göbeklitepe for centuries. If you were to visit Karaantepe today, the weathered white stones you would see on either side of the hill are actually the tops of the columns of a mysterious structure waiting to be unearthed beneath the earth. When you dig them up, you'll find orangish-brown stalactites and walls underneath. Only the parts above ground are eroded by rain, wind, and water over 1,000 to 1,000 years, thus turning white. Although the archaeological significance of these stones in Kara was discovered as early as 1997, excavation of the hill only began in 2019 thanks to the initiatives of Istanbul University . An interdisciplinary team consisting of dozens of Turkish and foreign scientists . Using the most modern archaeological techniques, he began to slowly and diligently excavate this hill, which was originally a mound—a hill formed by an ancient city being covered with stone and sand . These excavations will ultimately reveal that Karahantepe is not a twin of Göbeklitepe, but its sibling . Despite their many similarities, the striking differences already discovered indicate that these two hills are merely two pieces of a much larger archaeological puzzle . Today, we call the complete puzzle the Taştepeler project . I'll come back to this at the end of the video, but first, let's quickly look at the similarities between Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe . First of all, the Karahanepe mountains, located 45 km southeast of the Şanlıurfa city center, are situated within our national park. If we look at the Karahanepe archaeological site from above, we see numerous rooms and openings, just like in Göbeklitepe . Archaeologists, just like at Göbeklitepe, are naming these structures with various letters such as AA, AB, and AD . To give you a better idea of ​​the dimensions, the central AD structure is approximately 23 meters in diameter and about 4.5 meters deep. Karaantepe, like Göbeklitepe, was built on limestone terrain that is extremely easy to cut and work with, so our ancestors constructed these structures by carving the limestone bedrock. We know this. Because the entire area is littered with remnants of chisels and axes that could have been used in this carving process . I'll get back to that in a moment. If you look at the hill on which Karahanepe is located from a distance, you can see that there are many more mysteries yet to be uncovered. Underground surveys using instruments such as ground penetrating radar and magnetometers indicate that we have only uncovered about 56% of the structure so far. In fact, if you were to visit Karaantepe today, you would find archaeological remains everywhere you step. I even saw some videos of people visiting the site trying to help researchers by arranging obsidian tools, chisels, bones, and other archaeological remains they found outside the excavation area on large stones. While this is undoubtedly done with good intentions, it is incredibly dangerous for such a sensitive and unique excavation site . Therefore, I strongly urge you to continue admiring this beauty from afar . And in Karaantepe, there are hundreds of those T-shaped standing stones that we discussed in detail in the Göbeklitepe video . Remember, these stones were n't just erected for no reason. The upper line of the letter T represents the human head, while the lower line represents the human body . We can understand this from the clothing and covering drawings carved on the stones, and from the hand and arm motifs on the sides. It's not yet clear whether the stones represent people like you and me, or the mythological ancestors, spiritual beings, or even gods that the people who built Karahanepe revered. Regardless, the use of this shared symbolism in both areas indicates that these communities share the same culture . Because another critical similarity between the two structures lies in the concept of time. We know that Göbeklitepe was built between 9600 and 8200 BC . Radiocarbon dating conducted at Karaantepe indicates that this structure was built between 9500 and 8700 BC, the same time as the second layer of Göbeklitepe . Given that the two structures are only 36 km apart as the crow flies, it is very likely that our hunter-gatherer ancestors roamed these lands for centuries and built multiple similar structures . Naturally, the architecture of these two structures is very similar. Both Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe feature monumental structures, generally circular or rectangular in plan and partially built underground, which appear to have been used for social and ritualistic purposes . These structures were built according to a specific plan, supported by T-shaped pillars, and designed as private spaces where the community could gather . And remember, as we saw in the Göbeklitepe video, not only were these structures built, but the sealing and closure of them after people were finished with them was done meticulously, with great care and labor, not by randomly leaving them to the mercy of nature. After completing their work at Karaantepe, our ancestors deliberately filled the chambers they had built over centuries with earth, pieces of stone, animal bones, and broken tools, sealing them off and abandoning the structures in that state. We don't know exactly why they did this. Perhaps, just as they believed that the deaths of humans and animals were as meaningful as their births, they also believed that the deaths of structures should be as meaningful as their births. Who knows? Yes, as you can see, there are many fundamental similarities between these two structures, and these similarities beautifully illustrate that even 11,000 years ago, culture could be passed down orally from parent to child . In that respect, these structures represent the point where the story of humanity first ceased to be fleeting and began to become permanent, lasting for millennia . However, despite all these similarities, it would be a great injustice to consider Karahanepe as a twin of Göbeklitepe . Because if Karaantepe had been discovered before Göbeklitepe, it is likely that the fame Göbeklitepe enjoys today would belong to Karaantepe. Therefore, we should not see this as a competition for fame, but rather as pieces of a puzzle that will allow us to unveil the mysteries surrounding our ancestors . And the differences between those puzzle pieces are just as important as the similarities for us to unravel these secrets. And at the forefront of these differences is a clear divergence regarding to whom or what the structures are dedicated. If you recall, I told you that we saw an incredible number of wild and dangerous animal motifs at Göbeklitepe. Foxes, wild boars, snakes, vultures, and leopards. There, we either don't see people at all, or if we do, they are relegated to a very secondary role. When we move from Göbeklitepe to Karaantepe, we see that the spotlight has literally turned on humanity itself, that an anthropomorphic revolution has taken place. The sculptures unearthed from the region clearly show the human figure placed at the center. For example, let's consider this head motif discovered in the excavations. Did this once belong to a body and detach from it over 11,000 years due to the ravages of nature, or was it symbolically severed? We don't know for sure, but the details are extraordinary. Just look at her meticulously adorned eyebrows, her eyes and ears, and her single, perfectly carved tooth. For example, here's another one . But the most magnificent evidence of the anthropomorphic revolution in Karahanepe is undoubtedly this 230 cm tall seated male statue. Should I say "Wow, amazing!" ? what does it mean? I really don't know, but it's a joke. Just look at the attention to detail that people from 11,000 years ago showed ! Please take a closer look . Even the foreskin, which we know as the front skin, looks as if it was applied yesterday. They even cut away the skin located under the head of the penis, which we call the frenulum. It's unbelievable . Now take a look at those ribs. As far as I could count, they drew 12 pairs of ribs, which is exactly how humans are – they really do have 12 pairs of ribs . Although in our version the two bottom figures aren't at the front like in this statue, it's still amazing. We don't know who or what this statue represents either . It's probably a monument dedicated by our ancestors to their ancestors, but such a realistic human sculpture represents an incredible artistic and conceptual leap for its time. And this statue isn't the only penis we've seen at Karaantepe . Look, 10 out of the 11 statues erected in the center of this room, which archaeologists call the AB (Abdominal Chamber), are sculpted to resemble phalluses, or human penises . These ten pieces were carved directly into the limestone bedrock. The more irregularly shaped one you see in the middle is a snake-like sculpture that was carved elsewhere and later moved among these. If you look closely, you'll notice that a human figure observing these penises is also placed on the west wall and in the corner of the room. So why do you think the people of KaraNantep were so fond of the penis ? Looking back at those times with our current mindset, it's very easy to interpret it as an absurd form of sexual obsession . But remember, these people lived in the heart of the wilderness . The rules that applied to them weren't like today's national rules or human rights regulations . They may not have lived in a jungle in the literal sense of the word, but they were still subject to jungle rules far more strictly than we are today. And those rules were built on two fundamental principles . Survival and reproduction. Those who did both continued on their way . Those who couldn't do even one of them were gone forever . And when we add to the equation the importance our ancestors placed on resisting extinction, you can easily understand how crucial it was for them to emphasize, remember, and make sexuality central to their lives. We would have to think there was a problem if the Tsine placed less importance on survival and reproduction than they do . Think of it that way. It might sound funny that in our time, with 8 billion people filling and moving around the planet, you're telling people to have three or five children, but when your tribe consisted of 1502 people, producing as many healthy offspring as possible was truly a matter of life and death. The bridge between our ancestors who built Karaantepe and Göbeklitepe and us modern humans is beautifully constructed by the theory of terror governance that we discussed earlier . We go to such lengths to distance ourselves from the horror of death, which our ancestors were increasingly aware of, and from our animalistic urges like sex, that it's easy to explain everything from the mythologies we construct to our narratives about our place in nature, solely through this horror we feel towards our biological origins . If you want to understand what I mean even better, I highly recommend watching our video on terror management theory. But in short, what we stubbornly try to avoid today was the very essence of our ancestors' daily lives . These totems and monuments also demonstrate this. Anyway, leaving penises aside for now, we see that the people who built Karahanepe had another obsession besides penises: leopards . You might be wondering what a leopard would be doing in Anatolia, but again, don't think anachronistically. Although leopards today live only in the green areas on this map, they lived in all of the yellow and orange areas before modern humans slaughtered them and destroyed their habitats. As you can see, the lands of present-day Şanlıurfa were once a common habitat for leopards. Therefore, the people of Karahanepe were fighting leopards, bears, wolves, and snakes every day . Naturally, they reflected this in their works . For example, in this sculpture that was unearthed from there and is currently on display at the Şanlıurfa Museum, we see a leopard on top of a human. We're not entirely sure what that means either. It's possible to interpret it in several different ways. The most obvious possibility is that this scene shows a leopard leaping onto a person . As I said, survival was the main concern for people at that time, so it's very likely they reflected the elements that threatened it more in their art and narratives . Because we also come across more ordinary leopard drawings in Karaantepe. Because people have incorporated, and continue to incorporate, the things they fear and respect into their works of art . However, since the leopard is sculpted as if riding on the human's back rather than leaping onto it, and because the rest of Karahanepe reflects more of humanity's desire to dominate nature, another possibility is that this is a leopard hunted by a human. So that person might be carrying the leopard he killed on his back . If this interpretation is correct, we can say that the depiction of humans at Göbeklitepe—who fear nature and desire to live in harmony with it—begins to be replaced at Karaantepe by a depiction of humans dominating and trying to conquer nature. So, at some point, we see that a person begins to discover themselves. This could be a sign that people are beginning to see themselves as separate and special beings, distinct from the animal kingdom. This sculpture reinforces that point. Here we see a person, but what are those dots drawn on them all about, right ? The most widely accepted interpretation is that it's a person wearing a leopard skin . So once again we see a depiction of humans dominating and exploiting nature . From this perspective, Karaantepe is perhaps the oldest monument to the human ego's self- awareness and its tendency to place itself at the center of the universe . And if what I'm saying is true, can you imagine how iconic this discovery is ? Of course, a third possibility, which could be an alternative, is that this sculpture depicts a symbolic event rather than a real one . So that leopard might be emerging from within that person and representing their soul . This can also be taken as an indication that the people of Karahantepe began to develop mythological narratives. Because remember, the people at Göbeklitepe were much more literal. They hadn't offered much in the way of narratives that could be described as mythological. Which of these comments is correct? It's difficult to know for sure. Therefore, our conclusions should not be seen as definitive judgments. But there is one final point that leaves far less room for interpretation regarding KaraNantep and clearly distinguishes it from Göbeklitepe . Remember, one of the most debated topics after the discovery of Göbeklitepe was who built these monumental structures and, more importantly, why they built them . Our Göbeklitepe video was essentially revolving around this topic . As I explained there, the current prevailing view is that this was a cult center where nomadic and hunter- gatherer groups gathered periodically to perform rituals . So Göbeklitepe seems to have been built, or at least primarily used for, a kind of pilgrimage center rather than a permanent settlement. Karaantepe, however, is very different. Because right next to the monumental structures here are the houses where the people of that era lived their daily lives . Among the structures unearthed in the excavations are elements that we would expect to find in a settlement, such as household utensils, which we never found at Göbeklitepe. Furthermore, unlike what we saw at Göbeklitepe, we observe that numerous water channels have been carved into the rocks at Karaantepe, and the water was transported along these channels to pools. In fact, these water channels are so prominent and dominant in Karaantepe that some even believe the structure was built to facilitate water-related rituals . Kara also has public spaces of the type you see here, and these, like the other rooms, are built to fit the slope of the hillside and have two- tiered seating areas along their walls, just like in the other rooms. The space also features meticulously arranged sections, cylindrical stone slabs on the floor , niches embedded in the walls, and stone vessels . The Karahaneli people likely gathered in these rooms to socialize or perform their rituals, and we are rediscovering these rooms after 11,000 years . As you can see, what has been discovered so far at Karaantepe indicates that this was not just a temple or a ritual area, but that people may have lived here year-round or at least for months . It's kind of like a village. This alone makes Karaantepe an extraordinary discovery . This is because the prevailing view in archaeology before this point was that agriculture was invented first, then villages were established, and finally monumental structures and complex societies emerged. Göbeklitepe had already shaken this view considerably, but Karaantepe, by showing that this sequence can be turned upside down in at least some geographical areas, forces us to reshape the classic Neolithic revolution model from scratch . Can this still be considered science? That's it . We don't yet know what Karaantepe will tell us in the coming years, but one thing we do know is this. While positioning this structure as merely a twin of Göbeklitepe might be an accurate introduction to this story, what has already been uncovered shows that there are very significant differences between Karahanepe and Göbeklitepe. And these differences are key to illuminating the cultural evolution of ancient peoples . If we can manage to place the similarities and differences between these structures on a time scale, we can shed light on exactly what our ancestors experienced during the transition to settled life, one of the most important turning points in human history. And the fact that the key to this veil of mystery lies on Turkish soil is truly breathtaking. I can't even begin to tell you how lucky we are. And as I said at the beginning, it's not just Göbeklitepe or Karaantepe; so far we have discovered at least 12 different ancient settlements that we believe are related to each other in this way . 12. What do the other structures on this map whisper to us? That's a topic for another video . If you are interested in these topics, be sure to turn on channel notifications now and watch our Göbeklitepe video to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of these discoveries . See you in the next video. Goodbye .