Archaeologists working at Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey have made a groundbreaking discovery: what is believed to be the oldest known Sun-and-Moon calendar. This discovery, detailed in a study published on July 24, provides valuable insights into how early human societies began to keep track of time.

Key Discovery

The newly found calendar is carved into a large stone pillar that is estimated to be nearly 13,000 years old. The pillar is decorated with 365 V-shaped symbols, with each symbol likely representing a single day. This suggests that the people who created it had a sophisticated understanding of time, being able to track both solar and lunar cycles. The calendar includes 12 lunar months, with an extra 11 days added, showing an advanced grasp of Earth’s and sky’s natural rhythms.

Besides the calendar, the stone pillar also features carvings of a bird-like figure. This figure might represent a constellation associated with the summer solstice. The carvings date back to around 10,850 B.C., a time when a major comet strike is believed to have significantly impacted the region. This event possibly triggered an ice age, leading to shifts in climate and culture. These changes may have influenced how societies were structured and could have sparked the development of new religious practices and agricultural methods.

Impact on Human Development

According to Martin Sweatman, one of the researchers involved in the study, the environmental changes caused by the comet strike might have encouraged the development of early writing systems. The findings at Göbekli Tepe reveal that ancient humans were observing celestial events and beginning to document them in sophisticated ways. This discovery enriches our understanding of prehistoric societies, showing that they had complex knowledge systems that laid the groundwork for later advancements in human civilization.

Facts About Göbekli Tepe

• Göbekli Tepe is the world’s oldest known temple complex, built around 9600 BCE.
• The site is characterized by large stone pillars arranged in circles, which were likely used for ceremonial purposes.
• Göbekli Tepe predates Stonehenge by over 6,000 years.
• Interestingly, it was likely built by hunter-gatherer communities, which challenges the previous assumption that complex structures were only built after the advent of farming.
• The exact purpose of Göbekli Tepe is still debated, with theories suggesting it could have been used for ancestor worship or other spiritual practices.
• The site also features intricate carvings of animals, reflecting early forms of symbolic thinking.
• Excavations at Göbekli Tepe began in the 1990s, and since then, it has been recognized as a site of immense historical and cultural importance.

The discovery of this ancient calendar at Göbekli Tepe not only highlights the advanced observational skills of early humans but also opens new avenues for understanding the development of early human societies and their interactions with the environment.