Nevalı Çori
Nevalı Çori · Nevali Cori · Nevali Chori
Early PPNB·Upper Euphrates PPNB·🇹🇷 Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey
About
About Nevalı Çori
PPNB ritual settlement (c.8400–8100 BCE) on the middle Euphrates, sister-site to Göbekli Tepe with limestone T-pillars, terrazzo floors, and anthropogenic limestone sculptures of humans and birds embedded in walls. Excavated 1983–91 by Harald Hauptmann before Atatürk Dam flooding (now submerged under 30 m water like Abu Hureyra). Its cult building with 13 T-pillars directly links domestic villages to Göbekli's monumental enclosures and proves monumental art was not exclusive to hilltop sanctuaries.
Why it mattersDirect domestic analogue of Göbekli; limestone sculpture and T-pillars.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why bury cult building like Göbekli?
- 02Euphrates flood myth memory?
Theories
- 01Village-temple integration vs sanctuary model
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.8400–8100 BCE
- Period
- Early PPNB
- Culture
- Upper Euphrates PPNB
- Builders
- Euphrates PPNB villagers
- Purpose
- Village with integrated cult building; limestone carving
- Abandoned
- c.8100 BCE, later inundated 1992
- Rediscovered
- 1979 flooding survey; 1983–91 excavation
- Excavation
- Excavated
1983
Hauptmann rescue excavation
1992
Submerged by Atatürk Dam
On the ground
Structures & features
37.5320° N · 38.6070° E · 490 m · 3 mapped features
Cult Building II (T-pillar hall)
templeQuadrangular hall with 13 T-pillars and terrazzo
37.5321° N · 38.6072° ETerrazzo-floor house area
houseRectangular plaster-floor houses
37.5319° N · 38.6068° ELimestone sculpture niche
sculptureHuman-bird hybrid statue base
37.5320° N · 38.6070° E
Gallery