Hey, guys!
Today, mysterious Mesopotamia will reveal its secrets. We will see the zero point of civilization. Let's go!
Göbekli Tepe was the primary objective of my travel. It's almost impossible to believe that I will see with my own eyes the place where a developed civilization was 12 thousand years ago. Just picturing it sends a chill down my spine.
And this exciting journey begins in the city of Sanliurfa and its Archaeological Museum.
Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum
They call it simply Şanlıurfa Museum (Turkish: Şanlıurfa Müzesi). It's located next to Mosaic Museum and form a large complex of 2 buildings, which exhibits are divided into two sections: mosaic and archaeology. The largest museum in Turkey, it was was opened in 2015.
I have been to many museums, but I never considered myself a fan of them. But there are a few that really amazed me, remembered and left the desire to return! Incredible, isn't it?
One of the key artifacts is this 9500-year-old sculpture considered the world’s oldest life-size human statue.
The museum offers us the opportunity to see the adventure of human being from the first ages to the present time with historical artifacts, animations and imitations. It takes you on a journey through the many ages, such as Assyrian, Babylonian, Hittite, Neolithic, and Bronze. Usually, I don't take pictures in museums, because they can be good enough without using some equipment. Besides, it's common practice to have a special permit for using it. Anyway, here I took few shots, you may like some of them :)
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This creepy old man is a full size statue (or wax figure, I didn't touch it) looks absolutely real. Actually, it was not the only "alive" character they have.
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An interior space of Şanlıurfa museum is 34,000 square meters of two levels. A lot to explore. But I'll make this long story short.
Here is the imitation Göbeklitepe D temple. Inside this worship site I felt like the scenery will come alive in the next moment...
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Now when I got some knowledge and view, it's time to go and see it in real. It's really close, about 15 km from Sanliurfa.
Göbeklitepe archaeological site
You see, I'm really excited and happy to be here. I can't find words to describe my feelings, so I better tell you more about the site.
Göbekli Tepe (Turkish "Potbelly Hill") one of the oldest and most famous temple complexes in northern Mesopotamia. For a long time this place was considered the zero point of human history, until the settlement of Burnuklu-Tarla was recently found near Mardin. It is half a millennium older than Gebekli Tepe, but no research has been conducted there yet, and tourists are not allowed there. Actually, excavations are ongoing, only 5% have been excavated now. The most important and interesting discoveries are still ahead.
Probably, this place in the basins of the Euphrates, Tigris, and Jordan rivers, defined as the Fertile Crescent in the Near East, will make us rethink what we know about human history, change the information about agriculture, belief, settled life and religions.
For the first time I see live how the excavation process takes place. I must admit that this is a pretty dusty job.
Archaeological excavations started at Göbeklitepe in 1995. It is a tumulus of about 300 m diameter formed by the efforts of people who lived in the environs for centuries in prehistoric times.
It was established on one of the highest points of Sanlıurfa Province. In the south it prevails the Plain of Harran, in the west city center of Sanlıurfa, in the north Southeastern Toros Mountains which include Nemrut Mountain and in the east, extinct Karacadag Volcano.
The complex is considered to be the oldest known megalithic structure in the world. This period is approximately the years 10200-7500 BC. Four circular structures were unearthed, and according to geomagnetic studies conducted in 2003, there are sixteen more similar structures waiting to be unearthed.
Although Göbeklitepe is known as the oldest and largest worship center in history, it is also a center that hosts the first examples of three-dimensional sculpture art in the world. Most of the steles unearthed in Göbeklitepe have animal reliefs on them. They depicted snake, fox, cattle, insects, reptiles and so on.
That area is closed for visitors. So, if I come back here in few years I'll probably see more awesome discoveries.
That's all for today, but not the end of the journey. I will back to you soon! You can read about it from the beginning in my first Collection. All my travel posts can be viewed on pinmapple here.
Thanks a lot for a visit and have a nice and peaceful weekend!
Please note, that all photos used in my posts are taken and owned by myself. Nobody can use them without my consent. If you wish to use any of my images please contact me @zirochka.
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Wow what a beautiful sight to behold.
Lovely ancient artifact
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