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Gobeklitepe, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last century, has attracted more than 4.1 million visitors since opening to the public in March 2019.
Located about 18 kilometers (11.18 miles) from the city of Sanliurfa, the UNESCO World Heritage site is often described as the “zero point of history” because of its role in reshaping scholars’ understanding of early human civilization.
The ancient site dates back roughly 12,000 years to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, a time when humans were believed to live mainly as hunter-gatherers.
The discovery of monumental stone structures at Gobeklitepe challenged that assumption and revealed that complex social and ritual life existed long before settled agricultural societies emerged.
Sanliurfa Museum Director Celal Uludag said the growing number of visitors reflects global interest in the site and the insights it provides into humanity’s distant past.
“Through the archaeological excavations at Gobeklitepe, our knowledge about this period has been updated,” Uludag said. “We learned about the lives of people who lived 12,000 years ago, their belief systems, their relationship with nature and animals, and the transition to settled life and agriculture.”
Gobeklitepe consists of massive circular stone structures built with T-shaped limestone pillars, some reaching 5 to 6 meters in height and weighing up to 60 tons.
Many pillars display carvings of animals such as foxes, wild boars, snakes, and birds.
Archaeologists believe these monumental structures served as communal gathering spaces linked to rituals or social events during the early Neolithic period.
According to UNESCO, the site represents one of the earliest examples of monumental architecture created by humans and provides evidence of the social networks and technological skills of early communities in Upper Mesopotamia.
Excavations conducted since 1995 by the Sanliurfa Museum and the German Archaeological Institute have uncovered several circular enclosures formed by rings of large pillars connected by stone walls. Researchers believe there may be around 20 such structures at the site.
The symbols and animal figures carved into the pillars have helped scholars better understand the beliefs and cultural life of prehistoric societies.
“The symbols on the standing stones allow us to shed light on this period,” Uludag said.
Although the hill where Gobeklitepe stands was first noted during archaeological surveys in 1963, its significance became clear decades later.
In 1986, a farmer discovered a statue while plowing his field, which drew greater attention to the area.
Systematic excavations later revealed a complex of monumental structures that predate famous sites such as Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by thousands of years.
The site gained international recognition when it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. After protective structures and visitor facilities were installed, the site officially opened to the public in March 2019.
Today, the site forms a key stop on cultural tourism routes across southeastern Türkiye and continues to attract visitors from around the world.
Recent exhibitions dedicated to Gobeklitepe in major venues such as Rome’s Colosseum and museums in Germany have also helped raise global awareness of the ancient complex.
For many visitors, the experience offers a rare chance to stand at a place that reshaped the story of early human civilization.
Visitors interviewed at the site described the experience as deeply moving.
One visitor from Turkmenistan said she felt proud to see what she called the “starting point of history,” while a visitor from Palestine said the ancient structures left a powerful impression and encouraged others to visit the site.
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