The Stone Hills (Taş Tepeler) project is one of the most significant archaeological endeavors of the 21st century. Focusing on a region in Şanlıurfa province, it encompasses excavations at 12 major sites, including Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, Gürcütepe, Sayburç, and others.
A Network of Sacred Sites
What makes this project so revolutionary is the realization that these sites were contemporaries. They existed within a shared cultural and spiritual landscape. The people who built them shared a common iconography, technology, and likely, a common belief system.
Excavations at Sayburç, for instance, have revealed stunning reliefs carved directly into the bedrock, depicting scenes of humans and predatory animals that rival the artistry of Göbeklitepe. Each new site adds a piece to the puzzle, helping us reconstruct the world view of these ancient hunter-gatherers.
