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Archive for gobekli tepe

The Rise of Civilization

By Linda Tancs

In southeastern Turkey near the ancient city of Urfa lies a hilltop with prehistoric ruins dating back 12,000 years.  Known as Göbekli Tepe (Potbelly Hill), the site may very well be the world’s first temple, predating England’s Stonehenge by about 6000 years.   The T-shaped pillars of stone characterizing the temple site contain abstract symbols along with depictions of foxes, snakes, wild boars, cranes, and wild ducks.  Like sister  Stonehenge and other ancient sites around the world, it’s another mystical puzzle piece to the rise of humanity.