GGöbekli Tepe Visit

OBJECT RECORD · ESTABLISHED · CHECKED 2026-10-22

T-shaped pillars of Nevalı Çori

Nevalı Çori · Cult building / Temple II

A stela from Nevalı Çori displayed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
A stela from Nevalı Çori displayed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A museum diorama reconstructing a building at Nevalı Çori.
A museum diorama reconstructing a building at Nevalı Çori.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
Panoramic museum reconstruction of the Nevalı Çori building.
Panoramic museum reconstruction of the Nevalı Çori building.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences

Record

SiteNevalı Çori
EnclosureCult building / Temple II
Location nowReconstructed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum; original site is submerged by the Atatürk Dam reservoir
DatingPPNB, c. 8400–8100 BC

What is carved

The cult building contained T-shaped pillars, including a central pillar with carved arms and hands. The anthropomorphic features parallel pillar traditions at other sites in the Şanlıurfa region. The Nevalı Çori settlement was excavated before the reservoir was filled. [1][2]

Interpretations

Scholarly consensus

The arms and hands support reading the pillars as stylised human figures. [1][2]

By Nevalı Çori excavators

Related Field Log entries