Human-Sized Sculptures Found in Göbeklitepe and Karahan Tepe

 A life-size statue of a wild boar and a human was found during the excavations at Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe in Şanlıurfa. In Karahantepe, one of the realistic human statues of the period was brought to light. The statue, one of the examples of prehistoric art with a realistic facial expression, is 2.3 meters high.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, various human and animal sculptures were unearthed during excavations at 9 archaeological sites in 2023 as part of the Stone Hills project.

During the excavations, a life-size statue of a wild boar made of limestone was found in the D structure of Göbeklitepe. The pig statue, which has red, white and black pigment residues on its surface, is the first painted statue from that period to date.

The boar statue discovered in Göbeklitepe was unearthed on a bench with decorations that are estimated to be an 'H' shaped symbol, a crescent moon, two snakes and three human faces or masks.

TAŞ TEPELER(Stone Hill)

Göbekli Tepe and 11 surrounding archaeological sites are home to Anatolia's and Upper Mesopotamia's oldest settled communities. Spread over 200 kilometers, the 'taş tepeler' are expected to illuminate a little-known period in human history. The monumental structures in the 'taş tepeler' are believed to be communal spaces where people came together.

The Stone Hills show that there are other sites that are contemporary with Göbekli Tepe and have similar characteristics. All of these sites were located on high hills in areas ideal for hunting. The hunting grounds in the vicinity of these sites also support this view.

Göbekli Tepe dates back to 9600 BC and reflects an uninterrupted period of about 1500 years. This process, which we recognize with Göbekli Tepe, actually covers a wide geography and maintains its dynamism for a long time.

KIBYRA

 

Kibyra ancient city was founded on low hills, heights of which differ from 950 m and 1350 m,  to the West of Burdur, in Gölhisar. The city was at the junction of Lycian, Karian and Phrygian cultural areas and in the center of a trade route connecting the North to the South and the East to the West in early periods. The area was called as ‘Kabalia’ in early periods and ‘Kibyratis’ during Hellenistic and Roman periods. Although the meaning of the word is not known exactly, Kibyra is not a Hellenistic name. Common view is that it belonged to a language used by Luvians, people who lived in western and southwestern Anatolia during the Late Bronze Age, and this unknown name was changed as Kibyra in Hellen. According to Strabo, a traveller from Anatolia, Kibyrians were of Lydian origin and they moved to Kabalis from there. It is also obvious that there were also migrations from Pisidia, Milyas and Solym to the area and all these people joined and established Kibyra, the width of which reached to 100 stadia. Strabo also emphasized that four different languages, Lydian, Solymi, Psidian, Hellenic, were spoken in the city. Strabo’s description about the foundation of the city has been supported by the archaeological finds from Uylupınar, a settlement approximately 18 km away from Kibyra. The settlement around Uylupınar village of Gölhisar and the rocky area around Gölhisar Lake has finds dating back to the Early Iron Age. This settlement is most probably the area where Kibyrians had settled long before they moved to the city, which can be seen today, in other words ‘Old Kibyra’. Old architectural ruins of the city today are from the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiguity.

Kibyra was an autonomous city which could coin its own money during the Hellenistic Period.  It is known that the quadruple council  (Kabalis Tetrapolis / Association of Four Cities in Kabalis Region) which was established in the second century BC under the leadership of Kibyra and consisted of Bubon, Balboura and Oinoanda, cities located nearby, played an important role in the political history of the area. It seems that the council was a decision making mechanism based on voting of city representatives.  In this political association, Kibyra had two votes, whereas the other cities had one vote each. According to Strabo, Kibyra had two votes for providing 30.0000 infantry and 2000 cavalry. Records show that the council was eliminated by Roman commander Murena in 82 BC. After this period, Kibyra was incorporated into Asia Minor and the other cities were incorporated into the Lycian League. During the Roman Period, it became the judicial centre of Asia Minor’s state governor.

The city, destroyed by an earthquake in 23 AD, was exempted from tax for five years and it was donated money by Roman Emperor Tiberius. Thus, the city was rebuilt and Kbyrians showed their gratitude by naming their city as ‘Caesera Kibyra’. After the second devastating eartquake in 417 AD, the city lost its architectural plan and continued its existence getting smaller and losing its glory during Late Antiguity.

Kibyra main city is on three hills seperated from each other by deep cliffs. It is seen that public, civil and religious buildings were organized symmetrically to form completeness. All the buildings were placed on the terraced hill so as not to spoil each other’s lake and valley view.

Necropolis, consisting of many different architectural styles, surrounds the hill where public buildings are seen densely. These buildings are dense between the Stadion in the East and the West ridge of the hill where the Theatre and the Odeon are. On the same axis, main street, secondary routes, basilica with administrative and judicial functions, temples, social and commercial market place (Agora), temples and small shops, symbols of economical liveliness of the city, can be seen. According to the records and inscriptions, Kibyra was famous for its ironworking, leather trade and horse breeding. It has also been found out that ceramic fabrication was of great importance in Kibyra.

Excavation and research studies in Kibyra, under the leadership of the Burdur Museum, started in 2006. It has been a continuous excavation by the decision of the Council of Ministers on behalf of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University headed by Associate Professor Şükrü Özdoğru since 2010. Since 2006, Stadion, Odeion (Music House), Agora, Necropolis, Late Antiguity Bath, Caiserion, Roman Imperial Bath and Basilica have been excavated. Stadion, Odeion and Bath excavations have been completed. Work continues in Agora, Main Street, Necropolis, Caisarion, Basilica and the Bath Complex from the Roman Imperial Period.

 

KIBYRA CAISARION (EMPEROR CULT TEMPLE)

 

            Caisarion is located to the Southwest of the main hill. The hill, at this point, goes towards the stream (Kanlı Dere)  in South and West directions by forming steep crests and  creating an area to control everywhere easily. Caiserion was built at this dominant point of the city. The reason why it is called as ‘Caisarion’ is the inscriptions. Inscriptions are reliable proofs to show us that the construction was built for the memory of Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia, by the order of Emperor Cladius (41-54 AD). Thanks to the insriptions, it is also understood that it was built during the reign of Emperor Cladius. Therefore, this construction must have been built as a Caisarion (emperor cult temple). Facade of the North-South directioned construction is on the North. Total area of the construction is 16.00 x 8.90 m. Findings, which can be seen today, give us information about the structure because the whole construction except for the foundation must have been destroyed by the devastating earthquake in 417 AD. Caisarion is originally an Ionic emperor cult temple built in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­prostylos (four columns on the facade).