First Human-Faced Pillar Discovered at Karahantepe

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Recent archaeological excavations at Karahantepe have brought to light a remarkable find from the depths of prehistory: a T-shaped pillar bearing the depiction of a human face. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the symbolic world of the Neolithic era.

The T-shaped pillars found at Göbeklitepe and its surrounding sites have long been thought to represent humans, mainly due to the presence of carved arms and hands. However, the newly unearthed pillar at Karahantepe provides the first explicit example of a human face carved on such a monument, offering concrete evidence for these interpretations.

The face depicted on the upper part of the pillar—characterized by sharp contours, deep eye sockets, and a broad nose—shares stylistic similarities with previously discovered human statues from Karahantepe. These features reveal not only the technical skill of Neolithic people but also their capacity for self-expression and abstract thought.

Experts note that this discovery reinforces the idea that T-shaped pillars were far more than architectural supports. They were symbolic creations through which humans expressed and represented themselves. With this find, Karahantepe once again stands as a new window into the intellectual and spiritual world of the Neolithic period.

Source: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism
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