GGöbekli Tepe Visit

OBJECT RECORD · REPORTED · CHECKED 2026-10-22

Human-faced T-shaped pillar

Karahan Tepe

Overview of the excavated area at Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: Overview of the excavated area at Karahan Tepe.Photo: Frantisek Trampota, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
View of Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: View of Karahan Tepe.Photo: Campels, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
T-shaped pillars in an excavated building at Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: T-shaped pillars in an excavated building at Karahan Tepe.Photo: tobeytravels, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
Bedrock pillars and a carved head in Structure AB at Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: Bedrock pillars and a carved head in Structure AB at Karahan Tepe.Photo: tobeytravels, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A porthole stone and pillar-like sculpture at Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: A porthole stone and pillar-like sculpture at Karahan Tepe.Photo: tobeytravels, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A fox relief carved on a pillar in Structure AD at Karahan Tepe.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: A fox relief carved on a pillar in Structure AD at Karahan Tepe.Photo: tobeytravels, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A seated human statue from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: A seated human statue from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A carved head from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: A carved head from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
Stone objects from Karahan Tepe displayed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: Stone objects from Karahan Tepe displayed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A stone stela from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Karahan Tepe: A stone stela from Karahan Tepe in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences

Record

SiteKarahan Tepe
Location nowIn situ at Karahan Tepe
Discovered2025
DatingPPNA, c. 10th millennium BC (reported)

What is carved

A T-shaped pillar bearing a carved human face was reported from the 2025 excavation season. Contemporary reports identify it as the first human face carved on a T-shaped pillar at the site. Detailed excavation publication was not available at the time of checking. [1]

Interpretations

Scholarly debate

The find is reported by the excavation and Ministry press coverage; archaeological interpretation awaits fuller publication. [1][2]

By Karahan Tepe excavation team, as reported by Anadolu Agency

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