Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier
Pre-Pottery Neolithic (9500-8500 BCE)·Pre-Pottery Neolithic·🇹🇷 Southeastern Anatolia, Sanliurfa, Turkey
About
About Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier
Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier in Southeastern Anatolia, Sanliurfa, Turkey is a Pre-Pottery Neolithic (9500-8500 BCE) temple complex attributed to Pre-Pottery Neolithic. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal enclosure 4 × 3 m and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages.
2972E controls access to Southeastern Anatolia, Sanliurfa resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey temple-complex for Southeastern Anatolia, Sanliurfa, illustrating Pre-Pottery Neolithic construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Tribal capital and ritual aggregation
- 02Seasonal gathering locus
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 9000 BCE
- Period
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic (9500-8500 BCE)
- Culture
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial centre and pilgrimage focus with stratified deposits
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 9000 BCE
Initial construction of Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier main structure
c. 853 CE
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically at Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier
1971–2015
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0840° N · 39.2972° E · 718 m · 3 mapped features
Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier — Main Temple-Complex Feature
rock artPrimary rock art at Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier — platform mound with stratified deposits
37.0853° N · 39.2981° EKarahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier — Secondary Enclosure
hydraulicAncillary hydraulic at Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier — enclosure wall with stratified deposits
37.0834° N · 39.2969° EKarahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier — Outlier Rock Art Panel
necropolisOutlier necropolis panel linked to Karahan Tepe Pillared Structure East Ridge — Eastern Outlier ceremonial landscape
37.0824° N · 39.2987° E