The 12,000-Year Neolithic World of Göbekli Tepe Animated

Step into the enigmatic world of Göbekli Tepe and embark on a journey 12,000 years into the past, to a time when the world’s oldest temples rose. This unique experience, brought to life through captivating animations, allows you to unravel the mysteries of the Neolithic era.

Göbekli Tepe, located near Örencik village in the Haliliye district of Şanlıurfa, southeastern Türkiye, is the world’s oldest known Neolithic settlement. Discovered during joint surface surveys by Istanbul and Chicago Universities in 1963, this extraordinary site began excavations in 1995 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Klaus Schmidt, in collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute and Şanlıurfa Museum. Today, excavations continue under the direction of Prof. Dr. Necmi Karul of Istanbul University, further confirming Göbekli Tepe as the world’s oldest temple center.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Göbekli Tepe’s 12,000-year-old mysteries are further illuminated by a state-of-the-art virtual animation center.

Aydın Aslan, Şanlıurfa’s Director of Culture and Tourism, emphasizes Göbekli Tepe’s pivotal role as a leading Neolithic center. Renowned for its “T”-shaped pillars adorned with wild animal figures, some standing 3 to 6 meters tall and weighing 40 to 60 tons, this site is hailed as “history’s zero point” and continues to attract global attention with its ancient temple remains.

To enhance understanding of this historic site, Göbekli Tepe continues to be featured in books, films, series, and animated productions. The virtual animation center offers a compelling narrative of Göbekli Tepe’s evolution through engaging animations, allowing visitors to better grasp its mysteries.

Aslan highlights the center’s significance in helping visitors understand the Neolithic period:

“The center provides a crucial narrative, especially regarding the transition from the Ice Age and the emergence of Göbekli Tepe. It features animations and documentaries depicting the Neolithic people as hunter-gatherers, their shelter construction, and the monumental building of Göbekli Tepe. We also trace the human journey from hunting and gathering to agriculture and animal domestication. Visitors express great satisfaction with this immersive experience. We recommend that visitors explore the virtual animation center before seeing Göbekli Tepe itself, to fully appreciate how the site came to be.”