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(Image: ©Alistair Coombs. Scorpius constellation Arote/AdobeStock;Deriv.)

Göbekli Tepe: Enoch’s ‘Art of Building’ Hidden in the Bowels of the Earth

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From its initial discovery in 1994, ancient Anatolia's Göbekli Tepe has closely guarded a mysterious secret. Although the secret has been scrutinized and probed in great detail, the answer still remains elusive. Could it relate to Enoch’s stone records hidden in the bowels of the earth? Almost 12,000 years ago a previously unknown but sophisticated people accomplished what was considered to be, for their time at least, a seemingly impossible feat of megalithic construction. That much is now firmly established and answers the "when, where, and who" questions most journalists ask. Given the fact that archaeologists have discovered the nearby quarry where the intriguing pillars of Göbekli Tepe were hewn out of the limestone bedrock, as well as thousands of flint and obsidian tools used to carve the great stones, the "how" question is addressed as well.

Panorama of Şanlıurfa ( Alen Ištoković / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Panorama of Şanlıurfa ( Alen Ištoković / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Why Did They Build Göbekli Tepe?

That leaves "why?" That is the closely guarded mysterious secret. The structures found on Potbelly Hill, a short half-hour drive northeast of Turkey's Şanlıurfa airport, defy any attempt at easy solutions. They are much too large, massive, and intricately decorated for simple dwellings. They were constructed before the Agricultural Revolution and the invention of pottery, at a time when the human race was previously thought to be too primitive, too few in number, and too busy with day-to-day subsistence for such a labor-intensive endeavor. So, the question hangs heavy over the whole discovery: “Why did they do it?”

What motivated them? Does Göbekli Tepe represent a sudden and unexpected major step forward in human evolution—a kind of artistic and creative quantum leap? Did the builders develop the technical skills all on their own? Or are there other factors involved? The answers to those questions depend on who asks them and how much the inquirers are influenced by their point of view and vocational training.

Panorama of Şanlıurfa ( Alen Ištoković / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Archaeological Excavations at Göbekli Tepe (Rolfcosar / CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Archaeologist

Archaeology is a highly advanced, technical science, requiring specialized training and a comprehensive course of study, coupled with many years of experience both in the field and the library. Although creativity is a requirement, it is not a craft that can indulge in much speculation. It takes dedicated effort to uncover the clues and artifacts found on and in the ground, match them against existing finds elsewhere, compare notes, and arrive at tentative conclusions.

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This is the fifth of a series of eight articles written by Jim Willis which will detail aspects of the history of various ancient sites in Turkey and Anatolia.  In September, 2020, Ancient Origins Tours is partnering with award-winning tour operator Travel the Unknown to provide its readers with comprehensive escorted tours throughout the mysteries of the region, visiting classic destinations as well as more obscure locations where the magic of the past remains as strong today as it did thousands of years ago. Your hosts are Jim Willis, author of  Hidden History: Ancient Aliens and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization, and Micki Pistorius, Premium Editor.

Top Image: (Image: ©Alistair Coombs. Scorpius constellation Arote/AdobeStock;Deriv.)

By Jim Willis

 
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Jim

After graduating from the Eastman School of Music, Jim Willis became a high school band and orchestra teacher during the week, a symphony trombonist on the weekends, a jazz musician at night and a choral conductor on Sunday mornings. ... Read More

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