Unveiling the Ancient Calendar of Göbekli Tepe: A New Perspective on Early Civilization

The recent discovery at Göbekli Tepe, a site in Turkey, has unveiled what is believed to be the oldest calendar in the world. This groundbreaking find, etched into a 12,000-year-old stone pillar, suggests that ancient peoples had sophisticated methods of timekeeping long before similar systems were recorded in Ancient Greece around 150 BC.

Key Takeaways

• Göbekli Tepe is the oldest known man-made structure, predating Stonehenge by over 6,000 years.
• The stone pillar features engravings that indicate a calendar system with 365 days, 12 lunar months, and additional days.
• The discovery includes depictions of a comet strike that led to a mini ice age, influencing agriculture and complex societies.

The Significance of Göbekli Tepe

Göbekli Tepe, constructed between 9,600 and 8,200 BC, is a monumental site that has reshaped our understanding of early human civilization. The recent analysis of its stone pillars by researchers from the University of Edinburgh has revealed that these structures functioned as a calendar. The pillar contains a symbol ‘V’ repeated 365 times, representing a single day, along with symbols for 12 lunar months and 11 extra days.

The Calendar’s Structure

The pillar is divided into two sections:

1. Upper Section: Rows of ‘V’ symbols.
2. Lower Section: Smaller symbols, including a bird holding a circular disk above a scorpion.

The disk is interpreted as the sun, while the scorpion symbolizes the Greek constellation of Scorpius. Additionally, a long bird bending towards a snake may illustrate the autumn constellation of Ophiuchus.

Advanced Timekeeping Techniques

This discovery indicates that ancient peoples were recording dates using precession, the axial wobble of the Earth that affects the movement of constellations. Previously, it was believed that the Greeks were the first to use this method around 150 BC. However, the findings at Göbekli Tepe suggest that this knowledge existed much earlier.

The Catastrophic Comet Strike

Significantly, the ancient inhabitants recorded a catastrophic comet strike. A 2021 study dated this event to approximately 13,000 years ago, based on elevated levels of platinum and nanodiamonds—materials formed during high-energy impacts from comets. Comparative analysis of the pillar engravings with other ancient artifacts confirmed the description of a solar calendar and the comet strike.

Comparative Findings

The research included comparisons with a German sky disk from the second millennium BC, which also features the sun, moon, and the Pleiades star cluster, believed to mark solstices. The lower part of this disk shows a long, curved shape with parallel lines, possibly symbolizing a comet. Recent engravings revealed similar symbols of comet fragments originating from the constellations of Aquarius and Pisces, which impacted Earth nearly 13,000 years ago—around 10,850 BC—leading to the extinction of several large animal species.

Implications for Civilization

This comet strike was the most significant since the event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The extinction of these animals likely spurred agricultural changes that led to the development of more complex societies, laying the groundwork for modern civilization in the Fertile Crescent, which includes present-day Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon.

The Taurid Meteor Stream

Researchers also discovered a second pillar describing the Taurid meteor stream, believed to be the source of the comet fragments, which lasted for 27 days. This adds another layer of understanding to the astronomical knowledge possessed by the ancient inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe.

In conclusion, the findings at Göbekli Tepe not only redefine our understanding of early human civilization but also highlight the advanced astronomical knowledge possessed by our ancestors. This ancient calendar serves as a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of early societies in the face of catastrophic events.