Work

Decoding Göbekli Tepe With Archaeoastronomy: What Does The Fox Say?

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: We have interpreted much of the symbolism of Göbekli Tepe in terms of astronomical events. By matching low-relief carvings on some of the pillars at Göbekli Tepe to star asterisms we find compelling evidence that the famous ‘Vulture Stone’ is a date stamp for 10950 BC ± 250 yrs, which corresponds closely to the proposed Younger Dryas event, estimated at 10890 BC. We also find evidence that a key function of Göbekli Tepe was to observe meteor showers and record cometary encounters. Indeed, the people of Göbekli Tepe appear to have had a special interest in the Taurid meteor stream, the same meteor stream that is proposed as responsible for the Younger-Dryas event. Is Göbekli Tepe the ‘smoking gun’ for the Younger-Dryas cometary encounter, and hence for coherent catastrophism?

Source: Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry. International Journal/Mediterranean archaeology and archaeometry. International scientific journal

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.400780

Authors: Sweatman, Martin B., Tsikritsis, Dimitrios

Institution: University of Edinburgh

Language: English

Topic: Historical and Architectural Studies

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2602480271

FWCI: 9.531

Cites: 14

Cited by: 21

Related to: 10