Göbeklitepe: The World's First Temple

The texts you are about to read will take you not only to Göbeklitepe, but also on a short journey through the stages the world, living beings, and humanity have undergone, and the civilizations they have created. You will follow the traces left by life that began in Göbeklitepe and the cultures located in various parts of Turkey, both simultaneously with the creation of Göbeklitepe and in subsequent periods.

The interpretations of the artifacts found at Göbeklitepe are not yet complete. The artifacts obtained from the initial period of excavations and the ongoing excavations have led to a different stage than the first interpretations. The abundance of unknowns has brought forth different interpretations. General readers should not be expected to be knowledgeable about every subject. In this context, scientists, thinkers, writers, and journalists have roles to play.

Göbeklitepe is still highly debated and seems likely to continue to be so. It has attracted attention both in Turkey and worldwide and has been included among the World Cultural Heritage sites by UNESCO. The work you are about to read aims to help you evaluate Göbeklitepe by presenting you with different perspectives.