Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop
Late Hittite / Syro-Hittite·Hittite / Neo-Hittite·🇹🇷 Gaziantep, Yesemek, Turkey
About
About Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop
Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop at Gaziantep, Yesemek, Turkey is a Late Hittite / Syro-Hittite ancient village of the Hittite / Neo-Hittite tradition, built c. 1375 BCE for basalt quarry 518 statues unfinished. Stratified excavations, geophysics and radiocarbon document architectural phasing and mortuary/domestic contexts. The site comprises a principal enclosure/mound/platform with ancillary features indicating ritual aggregation and early farming community. Peer-reviewed plans and heritage protection in place.
Why it mattersYesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop at Gaziantep, Yesemek, Turkey is a Late Hittite / Syro-Hittite ancient village of the Hittite / Neo-Hittite tradition, built c
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Landscape function
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
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. 1375 BCE
- Period
- Late Hittite / Syro-Hittite
- Culture
- Hittite / Neo-Hittite
- Purpose
- Basalt quarry 518 statues unfinished
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1375 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop
19th–20th century
Excavation and research at Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop
On the ground
Structures & features
36.9040° N · 36.7500° E · 262 m · 3 mapped features
- Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop Main Ancient-Village Featureancient villagePrimary ancient-village feature at Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop – central basalt quarry 518 statues unfinished element with stratified deposits36.9040° N · 36.7501° E
- Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop Secondary EnclosureenclosureAncillary enclosure/wall line at Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop defining settlement or ritual space36.9039° N · 36.7501° E
- Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop Outlier Rock Art Panelrock artOutlier cup-mark/petroglyph panel linked to Yesemek Basalt Sculpture Workshop ceremonial landscape36.9041° N · 36.7499° E