Archaeologists from the University of Edinburgh have uncovered what could be the world’s oldest solar calendar, dating back 12,000 years, at an archaeological dig in Göbekli Tepe, Turkey.
This site, known for having the oldest human-made structure, features massive T-shaped stone pillars adorned with intricate carvings. Among these, one pillar may have served as an early timekeeping system.
The research team identified 365 distinct ‘V’ carvings etched into one of the pillars, suggesting that the ancient people of Göbekli Tepe accurately tracked and recorded solar and lunar cycles 10,000 years before any such documentation appeared in Greece around 150 BC.
Intriguingly, the researchers also discovered carvings depicting a comet impact that occurred 13,000 years ago, leading to the extinction of large animals and triggering an ice age lasting 1,200 years.
That catastrophic event likely influenced the culture at Göbekli Tepe, possibly explaining its denizens’ intense interest in celestial observation.
“It appears the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe were keen observers of the sky, which is understandable given that their world had been devastated by a comet strike,” said Dr. Martin Sweatman, the lead researcher.
Göbekli Tepe’s exact purpose has puzzled experts for decades, with many believing it was used for fertility rituals, animal sacrifices, and even funerals. However, this recent discovery adds a new dimension to the site’s significance.
Dr. Sweatman noted that the recorded comet strike “might have triggered civilization by initiating a new religion and motivating developments in agriculture to cope with the cold climate.”
He also suggested that “their attempts to record what they saw were the first steps toward the development of writing millennia later.”
The research findings were published in the journal Time and Mind.