World's Oldest Calendar Found Carved In Turkey
Carvings spotted on a stone pillar at Göbekli Tepe, Turkey, may constitute the world's oldest lunisolar calendar, created nearly 13,000 years ago. These carvings likely mark a massive comet strike, according to a recent study from the University of Edinburgh, published in the journal Time and Mind on July 24. The pillar's 365 V-shaped symbols, presumed to denote days, depict a year of 12 lunar months plus 11 extra days. This is prepared by SSP.
Located in southern Turkey, Göbekli Tepe is renowned for its numerous temples with intricate carvings. Researchers suggest that these symbols, along with a depiction of a bird-like beast possibly indicating the summer solstice constellation, were methods for early humans to observe and record celestial events. This relic signifies that inhabitants were keen sky-watchers, utilizing a solar calendar facilitated by their need to document significant astronomical occurrences such as meteor strikes.
The comet strike, theorized to have caused an ice age and cultivational shifts, may have spurred a new cultural paradigm at Göbekli Tepe. Martin Sweatman, a scholar from the University of Edinburgh, highlights that such celestial events might have prompted the development of early religious practices and agricultural advancements to adapt to climatic changes. This observation is further bolstered by the pillars and carvings evidence, which aligns with Sweatman's 2021 research, addressing a famous comet event linked to significant climatic cooling.
The notion of a comet strike, referenced as the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis and speculated in earlier studies, remains a contested topic within the scientific community. Advocates for the theory, like Sweatman, present markers such as high concentrations of platinum, characteristic of meteor impacts, found in locations like North America and Greenland.
Interpreting the same V-shaped carvings similarly, other statues highlighting key celestial events, and temples underscoring phases of the moon, researchers reiterate the remarkable capabilities of ancient people at Göbekli Tepe in tracking both solar and lunar cycles. Additional scrutiny on Pillar 18 in Enclosure D further indicates an anthropomorphized figure designed to reflect the comet influence, drawing comparisons to artifacts like the Nebra sky-disk.
Hence, uncovering these carvings enriches the understanding of how early civilizations documented and responded to astronomical phenomena, shaping religious and agricultural transformations during a pivotal epoch.