Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery at Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey, shedding new light on the origins of timekeeping and human understanding of the cosmos. The site, dating back around 12,000 years, features an ancient calendar system that predates all previously known examples by thousands of years.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed intricate carvings on the site’s T-shaped stone pillars, discovering evidence of a sophisticated solar calendar. One pillar even marks exactly 365 days, corresponding to the length of a solar year, and tracks celestial events like the summer solstice.
The discovery suggests that Göbekli Tepe was built by people who possessed advanced astronomical knowledge, including an understanding of solar and lunar cycles. This understanding is believed to have been influenced by a comet impact around 10,850 BC, which triggered a mini ice age and dramatically altered Earth’s climate.
The findings challenge long-standing assumptions about the development of human understanding of the cosmos and push back the history of astronomy thousands of years. They indicate that ancient humans may have possessed sophisticated celestial mechanics knowledge before writing or organized agriculture emerged.
Göbekli Tepe is significant not only for its advanced astronomical techniques but also for its role in the Neolithic Revolution, which was sparked by a combination of environmental shifts and comet impact. The careful tracking of celestial events at Göbekli Tepe may have been an early step in developing writing and symbolic language.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/06/archaeologists-unveil-a-12000-year-old-structure-possibly-the-worlds-oldest-man-made-calendar