Göbekli Tepe
Sanliurfa came to my attention as in June 2011 the latest National Geographic Magazine arrived and showed pictures of Gobekli Tepe and the article, (link:Göbekli Tepe) claimed that this structure was dated as being 11000 years old. I just had to go and see what that was all about, having already seen so many amazing archeological sites in my travels. I immediatedy added it to my RTW itinerary. |
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I was driving through this ancient landscape, hardly changed in the 11000 years since people lived and worshipped here |
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Some sort of ceremonial pit, clearly excavated painstakingly from the rock |
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And then, coming up the path, there it was. The archeological dig, still active, although at the time no one was there |
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Awestruck I walked around the dig to the hill above and checked the view in all directions, to get a feel of what they saw back then |
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You can actually see some of the carvings on the columns |
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Notice the 'arm' and a hand snaking around the pillar |
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As I was going over this, I noticed additional carvings on the side of the column with the edge carving. I tried, but can't make out what there is.
Something small, four-legged, at the top. Then something large with hoofs (a boar?) and below that?
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One can see two cranes wading in water. There are more wading birds on the cross bar. |
Turkey 2011
3D