Gobekli Tepe in Turkey is an archaeological site that was built around 11,000 BC, making it one of the oldest known sites with evidence of significant construction by humans. The site consists of stone circles with large pillars weighing up to 20 tons each and standing up to 20 feet tall. It was built and used by hunter-gatherer societies for over 3,000 years before being deliberately buried around 8,500 BC. The types of images carved on the pillars, which include lions, snakes, and spiders but no depictions of hunting or wounded animals, provide clues about the character of these ancient cultures.

1. A Presenter’s Journey…
VISUAL EQUATION of the CENTRAL IDEA
John, Hipsley
California
October 8, 2013
First came the temple…Then the City

2. Site built 12,000 years ago, was active for over 3,000 years
Methodically covered up in the 8th millennia BC
Gobekli Tepe – Turkey 11,000 B.C
Oldest known archeological site with evidence of significant
and prolonged construction activity by humans

3. .
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Gobekli Tepe – Turkey 11,000 B.C
Erection of monumental complexes was within the capacities
of hunter-gatherers and not only of sedentary farming
communities as had been previously assumed
CONSTRUCTION
• 200 pillars
• 20 circles
• 2O ton blocks
• 20 feet tall

4. CHARACTER OF A CULTURE
Indications from its Images
NOT DEPICTED
 Hunting Raids
 Wounded Animals
 Game: Deer
IMAGES SHOW:
 Lions
 Snakes
 Spiders & Scorpions
What do we see?
Animal and other images give no indication of organized violence

5. It is a wonder why these particular
images were chosen by our ancestors
who are not so different to ourselves
ADVANCED VISUAL THINKERS
Images are a clue to the character