Göbeklitepe 2025 Dig Concludes with Significant Human Statue Find

The 2025 archaeological season at Göbeklitepe, the 12,000-year-old temple complex in southeastern Türkiye, has concluded with significant findings and restoration achievements. Led by archaeologist Necmi Karul, the team completed approximately five months of excavation and conservation work at this UNESCO World Heritage site, often called the "ground zero of history."

A highlight of this year's campaign was the discovery of a human statue featuring clearly defined head and torso characteristics, unearthed between Enclosures B and D. This find has generated considerable interest within the global archaeological community, coming two years after the uncovering of a life-sized wild boar statue at the same Neolithic site in Türkiye's Şanlıurfa province.

Substantial restoration efforts focused on Enclosure C, home to Göbeklitepe's famous T-shaped pillars. Karul told Anadolu Agency that "we carried out major restoration work, including reinforcing the walls and reassembling and re-erecting several standing pillars" in what he described as one of the largest and most impressive structures under the protective roof.

The excavations at Göbeklitepe continue under the coordination of Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as part of the Stone Hills Project. First identified in 1963 by researchers from Istanbul and Chicago universities, the site continues to reveal new insights into early human civilization through Türkiye's dedicated archaeological preservation efforts.