Discovery of Ancient Calendar at Göbekli Tepe May Rewrite History of Early Civilizations

Göbekli TepePhoto byFrank SamolonUnsplash

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery at the ancient site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. They have uncovered what is believed to be the world's oldest calendar. Etched into a 12,000-year-old stone pillar, this finding could significantly alter our understanding of early civilization and the history of timekeeping.

The calendar suggests that ancient humans had accurate timekeeping methods 10,000 years before similar systems were documented in Ancient Greece in 150 BC. The carvings also depict what researchers believe is a comet strike that jump-started a mini-ice age which lasted about 1,200 years, completely wiping out large animals and pushing the development of agriculture and complex societies.

Dr. Martin Sweatman of the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, stated:

It appears the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe were keen observers of the sky. This event might have triggered civilization by initiating a new religion and motivating agricultural developments to cope with the cold climate.

Göbekli Tepe, the oldest artificial structure ever found, was constructed between 9,600 and 8,200 BC, predating Stonehenge by over 6,000 years. A recent analysis by researchers at the University of Edinburgh concluded that one of the site's pillars was carved as a calendar, featuring 365 'V' symbols representing days and 12 lunar months with 11 additional days. The carvings also feature symbols such as a bird holding a circular disc above a scorpion, which could represent the Greek Scorpion constellation, and a tall bird bending towards a wriggling snake, which may have something to do with the autumnal constellation Ophiuchus.

This suggests ancient people recorded dates using the precession of the Earth's axis, a method previously believed to have been first used by the ancient Greeks in 150 BC. The main discovery centers on the depiction of a catastrophic comet strike. High levels of platinum and nanodiamonds at the site indicate that a comet struck around 13,000 years ago, marking the most considerable comet impact since the event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This event is believed to have created agricultural changes and the development of complex societies in the Fertile Crescent, which makes up modern-day Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Additionally, researchers identified a second pillar depicting the Taurid meteor stream, believed to be the source of the comet fragments. This discovery underscores the profound impact of celestial events on the development of early human civilizations.

The implications of this discovery are vast. It could potentially rewrite the timeline of human civilization and our understanding of ancient societies' sophistication in astronomy and timekeeping. As further research continues, Göbekli Tepe may reveal even more secrets about our distant past and the early developments that shaped human history.