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Karahan Tepe & The Tas Tepeler Project: The New Horizon of Anatolia
Taha Ozyavuz August 31, 2026 6 min read
Beyond Gobekli Tepe lies Karahan Tepe — an astonishing site containing over 250 T-shaped pillars and human head sculptures carved directly into bedrock.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Tas Tepeler ("Stone Hills") initiative covers twelve contemporary Neolithic excavation sites across Sanliurfa.\n\nAmong these, Karahan Tepe stands out. Excavations led by Prof. Necmi Karul have revealed subterranean ritual chambers with 11 carved phallic pillars, a massive human head sculpture gazing across a sunken pool, and serpent motifs carved into floors.\n\nVisiting Karahan Tepe provides an intimate look at ongoing archaeological discovery before the sites become globally crowded.