GGöbekli Tepe Visit

OBJECT RECORD · ESTABLISHED · CHECKED 2026-10-22

Human-headed bird figure from Building III

Nevalı Çori · Cult Building III, east-side bench, latest phase

A stela from Nevalı Çori displayed in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: 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 carved head from Nevalı Çori in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A carved head from Nevalı Çori in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A Nevalı Çori carved head with a snake motif, displayed in the museum.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A Nevalı Çori carved head with a snake motif, displayed in the museum.Photo: Marco Restano, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A limestone sculpture from Nevalı Çori in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A limestone sculpture from Nevalı Çori in the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A museum diorama reconstructing a building at Nevalı Çori.
Site view 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.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: Panoramic museum reconstruction of the Nevalı Çori building.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A small human statuette from Nevalı Çori in the museum.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A small human statuette from Nevalı Çori in the museum.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A small stone human figure displayed upright in a glass-lit museum case.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: Museum display of a human statuette attributed to Nevalı Çori.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
A close view of a pale, irregular stone terrazzo floor display.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A terrazzo floor example from Nevalı Çori, displayed in the museum.Photo: Cobija, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences
An oblong pale stone vessel fragment with carved figures across its surface, mounted on white supports in a museum case.
Site view at Nevalı Çori: A decorated stone-vessel fragment attributed to Nevalı Çori, displayed at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.Photo: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto credits & licences

Record

SiteNevalı Çori
EnclosureCult Building III, east-side bench, latest phase
Location nowReported embedded in a stone bench on the east side of Cult Building III, phase III.
DatingMiddle PPNB, c. 8500–7950 cal BC, according to the cited study.
Dimensions23.1 cm high and 11.6 cm wide.

What is carved

A small limestone composite figure combines human and bird-like features. Two front protrusions are generally interpreted as folded wings; the reading is not certain.

[1][2]

Interpretations

Scholarly debate

The two protrusions are generally read as folded wings, giving rise to the conventional “human-headed bird” description.

[1][2]

By Verhoeven, summarizing published Nevalı Çori interpretation

Glossary

Continue through the record: Glossary · Chronology · Show Nevalı Çori on the map · Plan a visit

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