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Researchers have discovered a 12.000-year-old archaeological site in Turkey that may be the world's oldest calendar, offering new insights into time and astronomy in ancient civilizations.
Um archaeological site located in the southeast of Turkey, is one of the most important discoveries in modern archaeology, revealing fascinating aspects of early civilizations human.
Dated approximately 12.000 years ago, the archaeological site is considered the oldest known temple complex, surpassing Stonehenge in about 6.000 years.
What makes Bellied Tepe is particularly notable for its gigantic stone sculptures and formations which, according to new research, may represent the oldest solar calendar in the world.
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The enigmatic Göbekli Tepe
Built around 9600 BC during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, Göbekli Tepe was erected by hunter-gatherer groups.
Even without evidence of advanced agriculture or metallurgy, these societies were able to accomplish a monumental work requiring extremely sophisticated engineering skills and social organization.
The circular stone formations are made up of pillars that can be up to 16 feet tall and weigh up to 20 tons. Many of these pillars are adorned with carvings of animals, humanoid figures and abstract symbols, suggesting a symbolic or religious complexity.
Until recently, the exact function of the Göbekli Tepe archaeological site was a mystery. However, new research led by the University of Edinburgh suggests that the site may have served as a calendar for astronomical observations.
This study proposes that the markings carved into the pillars may have been used to monitor the sun, moon and constellations, helping to track seasonal changes.
Decoding the sculptures and the solar calendar
Analysis of symbols carved into the stones at Göbekli Tepe reveals a possible connection to astronomy. In particular, V-shaped symbols engraved on the pillars appear to represent days.
Researchers discovered that one of the pillars contains a 365-day solar calendar, consisting of 12 lunar months and 11 additional days, an early form of a lunisolar calendar.
This calendar would allow the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe to track time accurately, marking seasonal events such as the summer solstice.
One of the most intriguing symbols is a V carved around the neck of a bird-like figure, which researchers say represents the constellation associated with the summer solstice.
This discovery suggests that the builders of Göbekli Tepe had an advanced knowledge of the movement of the stars, far beyond what was thought possible for Neolithic societies.
Additionally, other nearby statues display similar markings, possibly representing deities or important figures linked to astronomical rituals.
These carvings and their connection to the sky suggest that Göbekli Tepe may house the oldest lunisolar calendar known to humanity, predating all previous examples by thousands of years.
The impact of a comet and the transformation of civilization
One particularly intriguing aspect of the research is the theory that Göbekli Tepe may have been built as a memorial to a comet impact that occurred around 13.000 years ago, around 10.850 B.C.
Evidence of this impact, such as high levels of iridium and platinum, as well as nanodiamonds and microcharcoal found in sediment layers, indicate that a catastrophic event caused widespread fires and severe climate change.
The impact of this comet is believed to have triggered a mini-ice age known as the Younger Dryas, which lasted for more than 1.200 years. This period of extreme cooling resulted in the extinction of several large animal species and forced early human societies to adapt to drastic environmental conditions. Researchers believe that this event may have been the catalyst for the development of agriculture and the emergence of new forms of social organization, eventually leading to the birth of civilization in the Fertile Crescent.
Göbekli Tepe, with its sculptures and symbols, may represent an attempt by people of that time to record the impact of this astronomical event.
The connection between the sculptures and the constellations associated with comets and meteors suggests that the inhabitants used precession — the wobble of the Earth's axis that affects the movements of the constellations — to record the passage of time, knowledge that would only be formally documented thousands of years later by Greek astronomers.
The legacy of the Göbekli Tepe archaeological site
The discoveries at Göbekli Tepe suggest that this ancient civilization had an advanced understanding of astronomy and the need to record astronomical events.
The calendar carved in stone demonstrates the importance of lunar and solar cycles for agricultural planning and religious rituals, essential for the survival and social development of the first Neolithic communities.
In addition to Göbekli Tepe, another nearby site, Karahan Tepe, features structures and sculptures that follow the same calendar system, suggesting that astronomical knowledge was shared among different Neolithic communities.
This continuity of knowledge indicates that these ancient peoples had a network of cultural and scientific exchanges, allowing advances in astronomical observation and the development of calendars.
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