@article{87df8ed021454c4ab37dbf3f6178097b,
title = "Decoding Gobekli Tepe with archaeoastronomy: What does the fox say?",
abstract = "We have interpreted much of the symbolism of G{\"o}bekli Tepe in terms of astronomical events. By matching low-relief carvings on some of the pillars at G{\"o}bekli Tepe to star asterisms we find compelling evidence that the famous {\textquoteleft}Vulture Stone{\textquoteright} 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 G{\"o}bekli Tepe was to observe meteor showers and record cometary encounters. Indeed, the people of G{\"o}bekli 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 G{\"o}bekli Tepe the {\textquoteleft}smoking gun{\textquoteright} for the Younger-Dryas cometary encounter, and hence for coherent catastrophism?",
keywords = "Gobekli Tepe, Decoded, Younger-Dryas, Comet, Coherent catastrophism, Taurid meteor, symbolism, neolithic",
author = "Sweatman, {Martin B.} and Dimitrios Tsikritsis",
year = "2017",
month = mar,
day = "16",
doi = "10.5281/zenodo.400780",
language = "English",
volume = "17",
pages = "233--250",
journal = "Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry",
issn = "1108-9628",
publisher = "University of the Aegean",
number = "1",
}