17/11/2025
Two decades ago, it was widely accepted that civilization emerged with the Sumerians approximately 7,000 years ago. However, the revelation of Göbekli Tepe, along with its adjacent sites along the Syrian-Turkish border, has completely shifted this perspective. This archaeological treasure, dating back over 12,000 years, uncovers a significantly older segment of human history. Intriguingly, certain monolithic carvings feature figures clad in loincloths, raising questions about the climate of the time. Given that humanity was grappling with the Younger Dryas, a period of severe cold, the presence of loincloths implies that temperatures must have been relatively warm, indicating that parts of Göbekli Tepe may have originated in the last warm interval before the Younger Dryas, around 110,000 BC.
The site is embellished with ideograms—symbols representing abstract ideas rather than tangible entities—possibly marking the earliest instance of human writing, which predates the Sumerian script by about 5,000 years. The monumental structures, crafted from limestone and featuring pillars that can weigh up to 20 tonnes, showcase advanced stone construction methods that were remarkably progressive for their era.
A striking narrative known as the 'Stele of the Cranes' describes an event involving the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe and 'beings from the sky,' coinciding with the appearance of a comet streaking through the heavens. This account implies a period when a cataclysmic comet impact ravaged the Earth, alluding to an ancient cosmic occurrence that profoundly influenced our planet's trajectory throughout history.