“The world’s oldest known megalithic structures; dating back to 9600 BC; feature T-shaped limestone pillars carved with intricate reliefs of scorpions and lions; the site predates pottery and agriculture; challenging the established timeline of human civilisation; enter the Enclosure C catwalk at noon when the vertical sun reveals the depth of the 11;000-year-old carvings; the surrounding Harran plain is vast; silent; and laterite-red.”
About Göbeklitepe
The world’s oldest known megalithic structures; dating back to 9600 BC; feature T-shaped limestone pillars carved with intricate reliefs of scorpions and lions; the site predates pottery and agriculture; challenging the established timeline of human civilisation; enter the Enclosure C catwalk at noon when the vertical sun reveals the depth of the 11;000-year-old carvings; the surrounding Harran plain is vast; silent; and laterite-red.
Why Visit
Göbeklitepe is one of Turkey's defining sites — a place that rewards every visitor differently.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Book tickets for Göbeklitepe in advance to skip long queues.
- 2
Hire a local guide to unlock the stories behind every corner.
- 3
Spend extra time in the least-visited sections — they're often the most rewarding.
