12,000-Year-Old Human Statue Discovered at Göbekli Tepe

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare human statue at Göbekli Tepe, widely regarded as the world’s oldest temple and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world.

Built around 9600 B.C., the site predates Stonehenge by 6,000 years and the Egyptian pyramids by 7,000 years. Its massive T-shaped pillars, carved with animal motifs, offer unparalleled insight into early human belief systems.

The discovery was announced by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy during the inauguration of restored Structure C, the site’s largest and most striking enclosure.

🚨 New Discovery at #GöbekliTepe Today!

A human statue, mounted horizontally within a room wall and thought to have been placed as a votive offering, was found in the area between Structures B and D of Göbeklitepe.

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Discovery of the statue

The statue was found lying horizontally within the wall of a chamber positioned between Structures B and D. Researchers believe it was deliberately embedded into the architecture as a votive offering, a ritual practice intended to integrate symbolic objects into sacred spaces.

Similar finds have been reported at Karahantepe, another Neolithic site in the same region, suggesting shared cultural traditions across the Taş Tepeler, or Stone Hills, archaeological complex.

A window into Neolithic beliefs

Experts say the find is of major significance for Pre-Pottery Neolithic studies. It offers a rare glimpse into the symbolic world of societies undergoing the dramatic shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to permanent settlements and domestication.

Each representation discovered at Göbekli Tepe adds to an emerging picture of the belief systems and rituals that shaped humanity’s earliest communities.

Restoration of Structure C completed

The announcement came alongside the unveiling of Structure C’s restoration, part of the “Heritage for the Future Project.” Archaeologists and conservators returned the massive T-shaped stone pillars — some nearly 20 feet tall and weighing several tons — to their original documented positions.

Kültür ve Turizm Bakanı Ersoy’dan Göbeklitepe’de yeni keşif açıklaması:

“Göbeklitepe’nin B ile D yapıları arasındaki mekânda, bir oda duvarının içerisinde yatay vaziyette duvara monte edilmiş ve adak olarak yerleştirildiği düşünülen insan heykeli bulundu.” pic.twitter.com/bVQUOwGLMX

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The surrounding walls were reinforced, and a special mortar made with goat hair was applied to replicate Neolithic construction methods and preserve authenticity.

Minister Ersoy described the restoration as a milestone in safeguarding the site and confirmed that new visitor facilities, parking areas, and walking paths will open by the end of 2025.

Three decades of excavation

First surveyed in the 1960s and excavated systematically since 1995, Göbekli Tepe has reshaped the understanding of early human history. The site, added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2018, is now a centerpiece of the Taş Tepeler Project.

Ten archaeological sites in southeastern Turkey are currently being explored by 36 international institutions and more than 200 experts and students.

Göbekli Tepe is not only an archaeological site but the shared memory of humanity, Ersoy explained. Their mission is to uncover, preserve, and pass this heritage to future generations.

Global stage for ancient heritage

The site’s cultural importance extends far beyond Turkey. In 2023, the exhibition “Göbeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place” at the Colosseum in Rome drew more than six million visitors.

Next year, Berlin’s James-Simon Gallery will host “Myths in Stone: Göbeklitepe and the World of the Last Hunters,” presenting 96 artifacts from the Şanlıurfa Museum collection.