Decoding Gobekli Tepe with archaeoastronomy: What does the fox say?

Martin B. Sweatman, Dimitrios Tsikritsis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

We have interpreted much of the symbolism of Göbekli Tepe in terms of astronomical events. By matching low-relief carvings on some of the pillars at Göbekli Tepe to star asterisms we find compelling evidence that the famous ‘Vulture Stone’ is a date stamp for 10950 BC ± 250 yrs, which corresponds closely to the proposed Younger Dryas event, estimated at 10890 BC. We also find evidence that a key function of Göbekli Tepe was to observe meteor showers and record cometary encounters. Indeed, the people of Göbekli Tepe appear to have had a special interest in the Taurid meteor stream, the same meteor stream that is proposed as responsible for the Younger-Dryas event. Is Göbekli Tepe the ‘smoking gun’ for the Younger-Dryas cometary encounter, and hence for coherent catastrophism?
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-250
JournalMediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Mar 2017

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Gobekli Tepe
  • Decoded
  • Younger-Dryas
  • Comet
  • Coherent catastrophism
  • Taurid meteor
  • symbolism
  • neolithic

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