Archaeologists in Turkey discovered evidence that an 11,000-year-old ancient site was used for a ceremonial march through a structure with phallus-shaped pillars and a human head sculpture.
The site, known as Karahantepe, is located in southern Turkey, east of Anlurfa, and has a succession of structures that date back long before writing was established. Archaeologists discovered sculptures of human skulls, snakes, a fox, and many unusually formed pillars among the building’s ruins.
For example, researchers unearthed 11 pillars around a human head sculpture. “All pillars are constructed and formed like a phallus,” Necmi Karl, an Istanbul University professor of prehistoric archaeology, stated in an article recently published in the journal Türk Arkeoloji ve Etnografya Dergisi.
Karl did not hypothesize in the journal paper as to why the heads and phallus-shaped pillars were created or what significance they may have had.
This structure is linked to three others to form a type of complex. According to Karl, ancient humans may have conducted a ceremonial march across this structure. According to Karl’s journal paper, current evidence shows that humans utilized the complex for “a ceremonial ritual, entering the structure from one end and departing at the other, having to parade in the presence of the human head” and the phallus-shaped pillars. More excavation and study, according to Karl, would be required before archaeologists could claim that the march took place.
Rather than being demolished, the structures were filled in with soil, possibly as part of a decommissioning ceremony.
The site is close in age to Gobekli Tepe, another archaeological site with massive houses and animal and human head sculptures. Gobekli Tepe is also near Anlurfa, and researchers are attempting to identify the connection between the two monuments.
Despite the fact that Karahantepe was found in 1997, excavations did not begin until 2019. During that time, experts conducted many archaeological surveys at the site. Karl did not respond to comment inquiries.
