ALTINBAS UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT

ARCH542 SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

HISTORICAL FEATURES AND ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE OF GOBEKLITEPE

INSTRUCTOR Dr. BEYZA ARAL

BY HAMZAT AJIBOLA AKERE 223725367

ISTANBUL,2023
 Göbekli Tepe

Historical Feature
Southeast Turkey's anlurfa Province is home to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe, which is situated
at the top of a limestone mountain range. It is a 9 hectare artificial mound that is 15 meters high. From 1995 to
2014, Klaus Schmidt oversaw the major excavation area on behalf of the German Archaeological Institute and
the Museum of Anlurfa. Megalithic structures from the eleventh and twelfth millennia cal. Bp. were discovered
during excavations at the site in several locations. There are primarily two layers to the site, Large curvilinear
enclosures are a feature of the older Layer III, which is dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) period, as
opposed to the younger Layer II, which is associated with the early and middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB)
periods.

Fig 1:Aerial view of Göbekli Tepe Fig 2: Aerial view of the main excavation area showing circular
Enclosures A,B,C, and D and anumber of rectangular structures.

Fig 3: Enclosure A Fig 4:Enclosure B Fig 5:Enclosure C Fig 6:Enclosure D

Architectural structure

The structures on Gobeklitepe are constructed in a series of concentric circles and are circular and oval in
shape. The structure are made up of 3 to 6 meter-tall, up to 16 ton, enormous stone pillars that are arranged in a
T configuration. A variety of animals, including snakes, foxes, and wild boars, are intricately carved into the
stone pillars. T-shaped columns in a circular arrangement are found throughout Gobeklitepe. The architrave,
which connects the columns in pairs and acts as the structure's roof, is arranged in a square pattern.
Pillars
The site's abundance of imagery objects, particularly those related to the megalithic building, is one of its
most notable features. The area's ancient inhabitants are claimed to have used the spot for religious rituals
and as a place of pilgrimage. Many of the architectural elements including pillars, pillar bases, port-holes
and gates bear representations in relief, depicting a wide range of wild animals. Similar to other Pre-Pottery
Neolithic sites in the area, the Göbekli Tepe's stone pillars are T-shaped. However, a large number of the
pillars are carved, frequently in low relief but occasionally in high relief. Animals make up the majority of
carvings, most typically snakes, foxes, and boars, but they are also frequently represented by gazelles,
mouflons (wild sheep), onager, ducks, and vultures. The creatures, to the extent that they can be
distinguished, are male and frequently shown in an aggressive posture.

References

Schmidt, K., 2010. Göbekli Tepe – The Stone Age sanctuaries. New results of ongoing excavations with a
special focus on sculptures and high reliefs. Documenta Praehistorica 37, 239–56.
Schmidt, K., 2002a. Göbekli Tepe: southeastern Turkey, the seventh campaign, 2001. Neo-
Lithics 1(2), 23–5
(O. Dietrich et al. Reference Dietrich, Köksal-Schmidt, Notroff and Schmidt2014; Peters et al. Reference
Peters, Schmidt, Dietrich, Pöllath and Smith2014; Schmidt Reference Schmidt2000; Reference
Schmidt2001; Reference Schmidt2002a,Reference Schmidtb; Reference Schmidt2003; 2004; Reference
Schmidt2006; Reference Schmidt2007; Reference Schmidt2008; Reference Schmidt2010; Reference
Schmidt2012)
Haklay, G., & Gopher, A. (2020). Geometry and Architectural Planning at Göbekli Tepe,
Turkey. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 30(2), 343-357. doi:10.1017/S0959774319000660