Gobekli Tepe Read online

  To Those Who Struggle for Freedom,

  In the Garden of Eden,

  Past and Present

  And to the memory of

  Filip Coppens

  (1971–2012)

  and

  Colin Wilson

  (1931–2013)

  Friends and Genuine Seekers of the Truth

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, I would like to thank those who have been involved in providing visionary thoughts and information that helped inspire the creation of this current work. They include Richard Ward, David Southwell, Debbie Cartwright, Bernard G., Graham Phillips, and Catja de Lorenzo. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rodney and Joan Hale, for their indelible help in making sure my life continues; Storm Constantine and Jim Hibbert, for putting up with me in their home for over a month; Graham Hancock and Santha Faiia, for the wonderful introduction, and their precious time and help; and Greg and Lora Little, for their constant friendship and support.

  In addition to this, I would like to thank Jonathan Bright, for his exchanges on the Greek language; Alberto Forgione, for the cover illustration; Idris Gurkin, for his friendship and kind help as a translator and guide in Turkey; Gülüzar and Hıdır Çelik, for their hospitality in Paradise; Catherine Hale, for her line editing and suggestions; Barbara Hand Clow, for the use of her brilliant term catastrophobia; J. L. Katzman of Aggsbach’s Paleolithic Blog, for permission to use pictures; Suna Köse, for her invaluable help in finding me local contacts in eastern Turkey; Janet Morris, for her archive research into the more obscure topics under discussion here; Raffi Kojian, of the AniOnline forum, Gagik Avagyan, and Sunny Keshishian Ross, for their Armenian language translations and advice; Russell M. Hossain, for his wonderful 3-D sculpts; Professor Klaus Schmidt, for agreeing to answer my questions and permitting me to explore Göbekli Tepe; Dr. Harald Hauptmann, for his help regarding the excavations at Nevalı Çori; and Michael Tazzar, for his research discussions.

  I would also like to extend a big thank-you to all the others who have helped me during the writing of this book, including Eileen Buchanan, Yvan Cartwright, Adam Crowl, Hakan Dalkus, Amadeus Diamond, Kelly Delaney Stacy, Adriano Forgione, Dawn Forgione, Stephen Gawtry, Richard D. Kingston, Peter Knight, Ian Lawton, Yuri Leitch, Chris Nemmo, Hugh Newman, Chris Ogilvie Herald, Khanna Omarkhali, Graham Phillips, Nigel Skinner-Simpson, Alby Stone, Geoff Stray, Alan Todd, Paul Weston and Rachel Blake, Leon and Lisa Flower, Pino Morelli and Roberta Formoso, Matt Kyd and Renny Djunaedi, Brent and Joan Raynes, Mark and Michelle Rosney, Buster and Abigail Todd, Bob Trubshaw and Judi Holliday, Caroline Wise and Michael Staley, Philippe and Domenique Ullens, John Wilding and Esther Smith, and staff at the Henge Shop, Avebury. Finally, I want to say a massive thank you to Olatundji Akpo-Sani, Kelly Bowen, Kevin Dougherty, Jon Graham, John Hays, Erica B. Robinson, Peri Swan, Jessie Wimett, Chanc VanWinkle Orzell and all the team at Inner Traditions/Bear & Company for being so patient with me over the past couple of years. It is very much appreciated.

  CONTENTS

  Cover Image

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Note on Dating System Used

  Illustration Credits

  Introduction By Graham Hancock NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

  GÖBEKLI TEPE IN CONTEXT

  EGYPT’S FIRST TIME

  LION PILLAR BUILDING

  FORGOTTEN CIVILIZATION

  CATASTROPHOBIA

  ABODE OF THE GODS

  CULT OF THE VULTURE

  FROM THE ASHES OF ANGELS

  Prologue: In Quest of Angels

  Part 1: Construction Chapter 1: A Lifetime’s Work SITE V52/1

  SUBLIME SOPHISTICATION

  SANGUINE DISCOVERIES

  NEOLITHIZATION

  ARCHAEOLOGICAL MINEFIELD

  THE CULT BUILDING

  THE GREAT MONOLITH

  A PERSONAL DIVINITY

  EXPLORING GÖBEKLI TEPE

  Chapter 2: Monumental Architecture SNAKE PILLAR BUILDING

  CULT OF THE SNAKE

  ENCLOSURE B EXPOSED

  NEW TEMPLES DISCOVERED

  DELIBERATE BURIAL

  THE YOUNGER DRYAS MINI ICE AGE

  A LIFE OF BEER

  CUP MARKS FOR CARRION BIRDS

  ENGINEERING CONUNDRUM

  NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

  THE ORIGINS OF AGRICULTURE

  Chapter 3: Frozen in Stone ENCLOSURE C

  A DOUBLE RING OF STONES

  THE DROMOS

  ENCLOSURE D

  MYSTERY OF THE FLIGHTLESS BIRDS

  LATER PHASES OF BUILDING ACTIVITY

  TRIANGLE D’OR

  Chapter 4: Strange Glyphs and Ideograms THE H GLYPH

  SHAMANIC POT STANDS

  AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ART

  EMBLEMS OF OFFICE

  THE EYE AND THE CRESCENT

  THE WESTERN CENTRAL PILLAR

  Part 2: Cosmos Chapter 5: Gateway to Heaven A CLOCKWISE MOTION

  THE SUN’S PATH

  COSMIC HARMONY

  CENTER OF THE WORLD

  PLACE OF THE PLACENTA

  TEMPLE OF THE TWINS

  TWIN PORTALS TO THE SKY WORLD

  Chapter 6: Window on Another World THE LASCAUX SHAFT SCENE

  THE SUMMER TRIANGLE

  THE VENUS AND THE SORCERER

  THE GREAT RIFT

  CAVE SCENES TO CULT SHRINES

  Chapter 7: Turned toward the Stars ANGLES OF ORIENTATION

  AN ORION CORRELATION?

  ALIGNED TO SIRIUS?

  NORTH OR SOUTH?

  TARGET REVEALED

  ENCLOSURE DATES

  CELESTIAL MARKERS

  SIGHTING STONE DISCOVERY

  SOUL HOLES

  CAUCASIAN DOLMENS

  PASSAGE OF THE SOUL

  Chapter 8: The Path of Souls CLEAVING OPEN THE PORTALS

  THE DENEB PORTAL

  STORM DEMON WITH OPEN MOUTH

  VENERATION OF THE POLE STAR

  SHIFTING POLE STARS

  Chapter 9: Cult of the Vulture PSYCHOPOMP

  GÖBEKLI’S VULTURE STONE

  HEAD LIKE A BALL

  VULTURE WINGS

  STAR MAP IN STONE

  CYGNUS AS A VULTURE

  Chapter 10: Cosmic Birth Stone THE KILISIK STATUE

  COSMIC BIRTH

  BIRTH CHAMBER

  COSMOLOGICAL BELIEFS

  Part 3: Catastrophobia Chapter 11: The Hooded Ones THE MINI T-SHAPED STATUE

  A SUDDEN CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE

  MESSIANIC MESSAGE

  Chapter 12: Fear of the Fox’s Tail BELT BUCKLE CLUE

  THREE-TAILED COMET

  MARK OF THE COMET

  COMETARY CANINES

  I PREDICT A COMET

  Chapter 13: Cosmic Trickster TURNING THE HEAVENS

  MAN VERSUS DEVIL

  RESTORING COSMIC ORDER

  Chapter 14: From a Fox to a Wolf THE CESSATION OF COSMIC TIME

  Chapter 15: Twilight of the Gods THE EDDAS

  THE DEVOURING OF THE SUN AND MOON

  THE MIDGARD SERPENT

  THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT

  BATTLE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS

  THE EARTH SINKS

  THE FIMBUL-WINTER

  DONNELLY’S DATES

  NUCLEAR WINTER

  Chapter 16: The Wolf Progeny SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

  BLACK DOG

  THE ETERNAL STRUGGLE

  TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY

  THE BUNDAHISHN

  Chapter 17: A Dark Day in Syria THE BIG CHILL

  MICROSPHERULES AND SLOS

  MELT PRODUCTS

  MULTIPLE IMPACTORS

  TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

  KILL, CHILL, ILL, AND NOW GRILL!

  Chapter 18: A
ftermath A BEDOUIN CATASTROPHE MYTH

  SEVEN-TAILED COMET

  PROFESSOR SCHMIDT’S OPINIONS

  A REMEDY FOR CATASTROPHOBIA

  Part 4: Contact Chapter 19: The Reindeer Hunters TANGED POINT CULTURES

  THE CASE OF MARY SETTEGAST

  THE SWIDERIAN CULTURE

  THE SWIDERIAN LANDSCAPE

  Chapter 20: Swiderian Dawn THE WITÓW PEOPLE

  SWIDERIANS IN CRIMEA

  TANGED POINTS IN THE NEAR EAST

  POST-SWIDERIAN CULTURES

  FINNO-UGRIC PEOPLES

  HUMAN HYBRIDS

  Chapter 21: The Solutrean Connection RIMUTÈ RIMANTIENÈ’S COMMENTS

  ANCIENT MARINERS

  THE BRÜNN CONTROVERSY

  SOLUTREAN STONE FRIEZES

  PURSUED BY A BULL

  SOLUTREAN BIRD CULT?

  THE SKY PEOPLE

  SWANS AND WOLVES

  HUNTING WITH WOLVES

  Chapter 22: Obsidian Obsession THE FRANCHTHI CAVE

  LETHAL WEAPON

  CROW-FLINT FIRE

  OBSIDIAN RELIGION

  THE SEARCH FOR NEW SOURCES

  Chapter 23: The Bingöl Masters THE EMERGENCE OF HALLAN ÇEMI

  EUROPEAN TAKEOVER

  THE GOBUSTAN WARRIORS

  DISTANT COUSINS

  Chapter 24: Wolf Stone Mountain SERVANTS OF SATAN

  LAND OF THE PERI

  Chapter 25: Saviors of the World WOLF-STICK FESTIVAL

  THE SHAMAN’S POLE

  OCCULT BATTLE

  STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE SÁMI

  FINNO-UGRIC ORIGINS

  FOX, NOT WOLF?

  Chapter 26: Strange-looking People COMMUNITY NETWORKING

  THE WALLS OF JERICHO

  SCHMIDT AND THE SWIDERIANS

  THE END OF GÖBEKLI TEPE

  Part 5: Convergence Chapter 27: In the Garden of Eden TEMPLE IN EDEN

  THE EXISTENCE OF PARADISE

  THE GREAT REFORM

  THE HIDDEKEL

  GIHON AND THE LAND OF CUSH

  IN SEARCH OF THE PISON

  THE LAND OF GOLD

  SEAT ON THE RIVER OF EDEN

  RELAND’S CHOICE

  Chapter 28: The Fountain of Paradise THE PLAIN OF MUSH

  MONASTIC FOUNDATIONS

  THE TREE OF LIFE

  FINDING OTHER EDENS

  THE REVEREND MARMADUKE CARVER

  THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON

  A MERE UTOPIA

  CHERUBIM WITH THE FLAMING SWORDS

  CARVER’S MAP OF PARADISE

  MOUNT ABUS

  THE SOURCE OF MANY RIVERS

  Chapter 29: The World’s Summit THE PISON RIVER—NEW EVIDENCE

  FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

  AL-KHIDR, THE GREEN ONE

  THE CULT OF ENKI

  DILMUN—GARDEN OF THE GODS

  THE DIMLI KURDS

  THE FOUNTAIN OF HIZIR

  Chapter 30: Rise of the Anunnaki MOUNTAIN OF THE GODS

  THE NIPPUR FOUNDATION CYLINDER

  MOUNT AL-JUDI

  THE SWITCH TO MOUNT MASSIS

  THE NIPPUR FOUNDATION CYLINDER

  CULT OF THE SNAKE

  NO CEDAR FORESTS

  Chapter 31: The Making of Humankind THE CREATION OF MAN

  EVE, THE GIVER OF LIFE

  Chapter 32: The Coming of the Watchers FIRSTS FOR HUMANITY

  THE SONS OF GOD

  VISAGE LIKE A VIPER

  HUMAN ANGELS

  Chapter 33: Mountain of the Watchers ARMON NOT HERMON?

  MOUNT ARARAT AGAIN

  MOUNTAIN-LAND OF THE MINYAS

  HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN

  THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD

  BENEATH THE POLE STAR

  ENOCH IN PARADISE

  TIGRIS TUNNEL

  THE MOUNT OF ASSEMBLY

  BABYLONIAN MAP OF THE WORLD

  GOD’S PROMISED LAND

  Chapter 34: Walking with Serpents THE MYSTERY OF TELL ARPACHIYAH

  SNAKELIKE HEADS

  CULT OF THE SNAKE

  ELITE RITUAL CENTER

  CITY OF ENOCH

  THE PERI AND CIN

  EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE?

  Part 6: Completion Chapter 35: A Quiet Corner of Eden EDEN-LIKE WOODLAND

  THE DISCIPLE THADDEUS

  EDEN AND THE TREE OF LIFE

  THE OIL OF MERCY

  HOLY ANOINTING OIL

  THE ANGEL’S GIFT

  THE TRUE AND LIVING CROSS

  Chapter 36: The Red Church STRANGE DECREE

  ONLINE APPEAL

  HOLY TREE AND SACRED SPRING

  DERA SOR IS YEGHRDUT!

  SIM MOUNTAIN

  Chapter 37: The Secrets of Adam THE REVELATIONS OF METHODIUS

  WHERE IS CORDAN MONTE?

  THE SEED OF SETH

  THE NAG HAMMADI LIBRARY

  THE PILLARS OF SETH

  THE LAND OF SIRIAD

  THE ROCK OF TRUTH

  THE GOSPEL OF THE EGYPTIANS

  THE SEARCH FOR CHARAXIO

  MOUNT SIR

  MONS VICTORIALIS

  Chapter 38: As Angels Ourselves LIKE THE ANGELS

  THE HOLY MYRON

  LINKS TO YEGHRDUT

  THE CHILDREN OF SETH

  A TRIP TO TURKEY

  Chapter 39: The Return to Eden THE TAXI RIDE

  PKK SITUATION

  THE DERA SOR COMMUNITY

  A VISIT TO THE SPRING

  THE HOLY TREE

  EAGLE ON THE WORLD TREE

  THE WOOD THAT CUTS

  THE RUINS EXPLORED

  FINDING THE CHURCHES

  SPECTACULAR VIEWS

  IS THIS EDEN?

  THE RED EARTH OF ADAM

  A RESPITE

  AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

  Chapter 40: A Trip to Paradise MOUNTAIN LION

  PEOPLE OF TRUTH

  COSMIC LION

  ARRIVAL AT MUSKA

  FOUNTAIN OF HIZIR

  FISH FARM

  POETRY READING

  Chapter 41: Göbekli Tepe Revisited UNFINISHED MONOLITH

  JUTTING HEADLAND

  NEW LION PILLAR

  MIGHTY LION

  Chapter 42: A Loss of Innocence A SENSE OF GUILT

  DEATH OF AN IDYLLIC WORLD

  TRAUMA AND INJURIES

  BACK TO EDEN

  A RETURN TO THE SOURCE

  Appendix

  Footnotes

  Endnotes

  Bibliography

  About the Author

  About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company

  Copyright & Permissions

  Index

  NOTE ON DATING SYSTEM USED

  The long-held dating system of BC (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini, “in the year of the Lord”) is used in preference to more modern forms, such as BCE (before the common era) and CE (of the common era). Occasionally BP (before the present) and KYA (thousand years ago) are used when expressing events of the past. All dates provided by the process of radiocarbon dating are recalibrated unless otherwise stated.

  ILLUSTRATION CREDITS

  Figure credits

  Harald Hauptmann/Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2

  Catherine Hale/Rodney Hale/Andrew Collins, 1.1

  Rodney Hale/Andrew Collins, 1.5, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1 and 8.1, 8.2, 9.4, 9.5, 10.4, 10.5, 13.1, 19.1, 21.3, 22.1, 23.1, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 28.1, 28.2, 33.3, 36.1, 39.2

  Michelle Rosney, 2.2

  Storm Constantine, 4.2, 9.3

  Yuri Leitch, 6.1

  Robert Braidwood/Halet Çambel/Univ. of Istanbul/Univ. of Chicago, 7.2

  Greg Little, 8.3

  Billie Walker John, 9.1, 32.1, 37.3

  Gaziantep Archaeological Museum, 10.2

  J. L Katzman/www.aggsbach.de, 52B

  Deutsche Archäologisches Institut, 52A & 52C

  Russell M. Hossain, 26.1, 32.1

  Google Earth/DigitalGlobe 2013, 39.1

  All other illustrations are from the author’s collection and are thus copyrig
ht the author of this work.

  Color Plate Credits

  Caroline Wise/Rodney Hale, plate 25

  J. L Katzman/www.aggsbach.de, plate 25

  Rodney Hale, plate 26

  All other plates are copyright the author.

  INTRODUCTION

  By Graham Hancock

  The new millennium promised much—the rising of Atlantis, the Second Coming of Christ, and the discovery of the Hall of Records in Egypt. Yet those of a New Age persuasion who had waited patiently for this all-important date were to be sadly disappointed. Even so, an archaeological discovery brought to the world’s attention for the first time in 20001 is now poised to make up for any sense of anticlimax that might have accompanied the millennial nonevent.

  I speak of Göbekli Tepe, a megalithic complex of incredible beauty and importance located close to the ancient city of Şanlıurfa in southeast Turkey. Here, quietly, since 1995, a series of stone enclosures of immense sophistication, each containing T-shaped pillars up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and weighing as much as 16.5 US tons (15 metric tonnes), is being uncovered on a mountain platform close to the western termination of the Anti-Taurus range.

  Carved into the faces of the dozens of stone pillars and freestanding monoliths uncovered so far is a virtual menagerie of strange creatures that populated the world when these mysterious monuments were constructed between twelve thousand and ten thousand years ago. Foxes, wolves, lions, snakes, aurochs, hyena, ibex, and boars are seen alongside insects, arachnids, and various species of bird, including crane, vulture, flamingo, and a flightless bird with the likeness of a dodo.