Unearthing prehistoric art: Discoveries at Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe reveal ancient sculptures

A life-sized painted wild boar statue and a uniquely detailed human figure have emerged from the soil at Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, announced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. These incredible finds were unveiled during ongoing excavations to delve deeper into the enigmatic Stone Hills Project.

At Gobeklitepe, known as the ground zero of history, archaeologists discovered a meticulously crafted wild boar statue made of limestone in the "D structure". It is adorned with red, white, and black pigment residues and is the site's first painted sculpture attributed to the prehistoric era. The wild boar, highlighted by its vivid ornaments, is believed to feature intricate symbols, including an "H-shaped" icon, a crescent moon, two serpents, and three human faces or masks.

A parallel excavation at Karahantepe yielded another monumental discovery - a 2.3-meter-high human statue, intricately designed and rooted to the ground on a bench. The figure's realistic facial expressions and detailed anatomy, emphasizing the ribs, spine, and shoulder bones, mark it as a potential masterpiece of prehistoric art.

The area surrounding the seated human figure also revealed a vulture statue mounted on the wall and several stone plates strewn across the ground. These findings, accentuating the lifelike human figure, suggest a scene that reflects the complex and enigmatic nature of prehistoric beliefs and rituals.

These groundbreaking discoveries are part of the broader Stone Hills Project, an ambitious archaeological undertaking that continues to unveil unprecedented insights into prehistoric art and civilization. Across the nine active archaeological sites this year, every excavation brings the world one step closer to unraveling the intricate tapestry of human history.

As the archaeological teams, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, continue their meticulous work, each artifact extracted from the ancient grounds of Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe contributes to the growing understanding of the origins of human civilization. The painted wild boar and the detailed human figure now join the pantheon of discoveries that paint a vivid picture of a world thousand years past yet intrinsically connected to the present.

These discoveries' global and historical significance underscores the sites' roles as epicenters of ancient art and civilization, awaiting further exploration and promising to redefine historical contexts with each layer unearthed.

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