This humanoid sculpture was unearthed at Karahan Tepe. The figure it portrays may potentially depict a deceased individual. These recently discovered sculptures date back approximately 11,000 years. (Image credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor via Getty Images)
In Turkey, archaeologists have uncovered a statue nearly 11,000 years old, potentially portraying a colossal figure grasping his genitals, alongside a life-sized statue of a wild boar. These artifacts originate from the adjacent sites of Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe, both counted among the world’s oldest temple sites.
The limestone wild boar statue, discovered at Gobekli Tepe, dates back to between 8700 B.C. and 8200 B.C. It measures 4.4 feet (1.4 meters) in length and 2.3 feet (0.7 meters) in height, as reported by the German Archaeological Institute. Traces of red, black, and white pigments found on its surface suggest that the sculpture was originally painted. Meanwhile, at the Karahan Tepe site, located approximately 22 miles (35 kilometers) from Gobekli Tepe, archaeologists unearthed a large sculpture of a man. Standing at 7.5 feet tall (2.3 meters), the figure features prominently defined ribs, spine, and shoulders. Interestingly, the depiction of the person may imply that they are deceased, according to a translated statement from Turkey’s ministry of culture and tourism.
“These findings represent the most recent remarkable discoveries from these sites, reshaping our comprehension of pre-agricultural societies,” Benjamin Arbuckle, an anthropology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was not involved in the excavations, stated in an email to Live Science.
Nearby at Karahan Tepe, researchers discovered a small sculpture depicting a vulture. Although the age of the newly discovered statues at Karahan Tepe was not specified by archaeologists, the site itself dates back approximately 11,000 years and is adorned with various other sculptures and structures.
“Previously, archaeologists believed that the hunter-gatherer communities in southwest Asia approximately 11,000 years ago were characterized as relatively basic, small in size, and generally egalitarian,” stated Arbuckle. “However, the discoveries made at Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe over the past three decades have debunked this notion,” Arbuckle explained.
Gobekli Tepe is an expansive, megalithic site adorned with T-shaped pillars and intricate sculptures portraying animals, abstract symbols, and human hands. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the site probably served as a location for funerary ceremonies. The existence of this extensive and sophisticated complex challenges the previous notion that hunter-gatherer communities in the area were primitive. Instead, it suggests that these communities were organized in a manner that facilitated the construction of impressive architectural feats.
What was the purpose of the sculptures?
The purpose of the recently discovered sculptures remains unclear. “The findings at Karahan Tepe appear particularly intriguing to me,” stated Ted Banning, an anthropology professor at the University of Toronto who was not part of the study, in an email to Live Science. “Any interpretation of the statue is speculative at this stage,” Banning noted, but he proposed that the depicted individual is likely deceased. He suggested that it might symbolize “a significant ancestor linked with the structure where it was uncovered.”
The posture of the figure might offer additional insight into its intended function. “The depiction of the figure grasping its penis also aligns with this interpretation, potentially signifying that this individual was the founder of a social unit, such as a lineage or clan, linked to the structure,” remarked Banning.
Banning speculates that the structures at Karahan Tepe and Gobekli Tepe might have served as residences rather than temples. “In that scenario, it’s quite plausible that each structure would have its own ancestral figure,” Banning suggested.
“It’s not unexpected that the wild boar sculpture displays pigments,” he elaborated. “I believe it’s plausible that a significant portion, if not the majority, of the sculptures at these sites were originally adorned with paint,” Banning remarked, highlighting the challenge of preserving paint in the archaeological record.
Archaeologists engaged in the excavations did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
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Owen Jarus frequently contributes to Live Science, focusing on archaeology and humanity’s history. His work has been featured in publications such as The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP), and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.
