Ring pillars and drystone benches of one of the great enclosures

Gallery

Göbeklitepe in pictures

The enclosures from the boardwalk, the carved pillars up close, the sister site at Karahan Tepe and the city of Şanlıurfa. Click any photograph to view it large.

Göbeklitepe

Göbeklitepe from the air: the excavation shelter on its limestone ridge, orchards and fields around itGöbeklitepe from the air: the excavation shelter on its limestone ridge, orchards and fields around it.A great enclosure from above: T-pillars set into walls and benches around two taller central pillarsA great enclosure from above: T-pillars set into walls and benches around two taller central pillars.Pillar 43, the Vulture Stone: three ‘handbag’ motifs along the top edge, the vulture balancing a disc, and a scorpion belowPillar 43, the Vulture Stone: three ‘handbag’ motifs along the top edge, the vulture balancing a disc, and a scorpion below.The twin central pillars of a great enclosure, seen from the boardwalkThe twin central pillars of a great enclosure, seen from the boardwalk.Hands carved in low relief meeting on the front of a central pillarHands carved in low relief meeting on the front of a central pillar.The protective canopy and the visitor boardwalk at sunsetThe protective canopy and the visitor boardwalk at sunset.Ring pillars and drystone benches of one of the great enclosuresRing pillars and drystone benches of one of the great enclosures.A carved arm bending at the elbow on the side of a central pillarA carved arm bending at the elbow on the side of a central pillar.The membrane canopy over the main excavation area, seen from the approach pathThe membrane canopy over the main excavation area, seen from the approach path.The canopy that shelters Enclosures A–D from sun and rain, at duskThe canopy that shelters Enclosures A–D from sun and rain, at dusk.The Şanlıurfa plateau around the site — the landscape the builders hunted and gathered inThe Şanlıurfa plateau around the site — the landscape the builders hunted and gathered in.Excavated enclosures under the protective canopyExcavated enclosures under the protective canopy.Panorama of the excavationPanorama of the excavation.The archaeology park and the visitor approachThe archaeology park and the visitor approach.

Karahan Tepe and the Stone Hills

T-pillars at Karahan Tepe, about 46 km east of GöbeklitepeT-pillars at Karahan Tepe, about 46 km east of Göbeklitepe.Pillars at Karahan Tepe, several of them cut directly from the bedrockPillars at Karahan Tepe, several of them cut directly from the bedrock.A T-pillar standing in the Karahan Tepe excavationA T-pillar standing in the Karahan Tepe excavation.Excavation trenches and pillars at Karahan TepeExcavation trenches and pillars at Karahan Tepe.T-pillars at Karahan TepeT-pillars at Karahan Tepe.Structures at Karahan Tepe under protective covers between seasonsStructures at Karahan Tepe under protective covers between seasons.Excavation at Sayburç, another site of the Taş Tepeler networkExcavation at Sayburç, another site of the Taş Tepeler network.

Şanlıurfa and around

Balıklıgöl and the Halil-ür-Rahman Mosque at duskBalıklıgöl and the Halil-ür-Rahman Mosque at dusk.Balıklıgöl, the Pool of Sacred Fish, in central ŞanlıurfaBalıklıgöl, the Pool of Sacred Fish, in central Şanlıurfa.Copperware in Şanlıurfa’s historic bazaarCopperware in Şanlıurfa’s historic bazaar.Şanlıurfa from above, the old city gathered around BalıklıgölŞanlıurfa from above, the old city gathered around Balıklıgöl.The beehive houses of Harran, about 45 km south-east of ŞanlıurfaThe beehive houses of Harran, about 45 km south-east of Şanlıurfa.Mardin’s old town, a rewarding onward stop east of ŞanlıurfaMardin’s old town, a rewarding onward stop east of Şanlıurfa.The colossal heads of Nemrut Dağı, a longer excursion north of the regionThe colossal heads of Nemrut Dağı, a longer excursion north of the region.

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A great enclosure from above: T-pillars set into walls and benches around two taller central pillars

The enclosures

The four great circles — A, B, C and D — and how each is built.

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Pillar 43, the Vulture Stone: three ‘handbag’ motifs along the top edge, the vulture balancing a disc, and a scorpion below

Pillar 43, the Vulture Stone

The site’s most famous and most debated relief.

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Pillars at Karahan Tepe, several of them cut directly from the bedrock

Karahan Tepe

The sister site, 46 km east, with pillars cut from bedrock.

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The protective canopy and the visitor boardwalk at sunset

Plan your visit

The canopy, the boardwalk and how to see it.

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