Gobekli Tepe Sister Site: Excavations Begin at Karahan Tepe | Ancient Architects

As reported earlier this month, archaeological excavations have begun in the southeastern province of Sanhurfa’s Karahan Tepe, another ancient site that is home to more than 250 Neolithic-era T-shaped pillars, which bear a striking resemblance to the more famous ones at Gobekli Tepe, which is 23 miles away from this sister site.

These pillars of Karahan Tepe were discovered in 1997, but were surveyed in 2000, in 2011 and again two years ago, surveys that were initiated by Istanbul University and headed by Professor Necmi Karul.

The surveys showed more that 250 T-shaped pillars and experts are almost certain they date back to the same period of Gobekli Tepe, some time between the 10th and 7th millennium’s BC. In fact, Karahan Tepe is just one of 12 more locations in the region that may have Gobekli Tepe-like structures hidden below the surface.




Karahan Tepe is the sister site to the enigmatic Göbekli Tepe in Southeast Turkey (video here: [link to youtu.be] It has many striking similarities to Göbekli. Firstly, it is still buried. All you are seeing in the video is the very tops of the T-Shaped pillars. There are 266 of them that mostly form parallel curved serpent-like rows. Some have animal and serpent relief carvings. Karahan Tepe was first discovered in 1997, and was surveyed in 2000 and again in 2011. It is located on the Tektek mountains and is within the boundaries of Sanliurfa (ancient Edessa - the birthplace of Abraham).

I visited this unexcavated site in June 2014 with author Andrew Collins and a group of Megalithomaniacs on the 'Origins of Civilization' tour. It is not an officially recognized tourist site, so we had to plan the trip there carefully as it is on private land, upon the Tektek mountains. When Andrew visited there in 2004 the person who showed him around was warned he would get a beating if it was found that anyone had visited there. Ten years later, and the owners welcome the occasional visitor with tea and information. No beatings entailed, just tea and conversation after our morning visit. Anyway, enjoy the video, and join us there in May & September if you can: [link to www.megalithomania.co.uk]




Karahan Tepe is the sister site to the enigmatic Göbekli Tepe, that sits around 23 miles southeast of Göbekli, upon an elevated limestone ridge. It has many striking similarities to Göbekli. Firstly, it consists of T-Shaped pillars - 266 of them that mostly form parallel rows. The pillars have relief carvings, and appears, like Göbekli, to be deliberately buried under a great artificial mound, although this could be natural, as after 10,500 years the accumulation of dirt, combined with high winds, could cover it back up. The comparisons do not end there. It also has serpent relief carvings, strange indentations, large cup-marks, porthole stones, and an unfinished T-shaped pillar still in the quarry - the focus of this video. A similar monolith sits in the quarry at Göbekli Tepe, and may be part of an ancient tradition of leaving the largest monoliths in the quarry.