Türkiye's Karahantepe named among top archaeological finds of 2025

Karahantepe, a major Neolithic site in southeastern Türkiye, has been named one of the top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2025 by Archaeology Magazine and featured on its cover. The site, part of the Tas Tepeler (Stone Hills) project in Sanliurfa province, continues to reshape the understanding of early settled human societies with its latest finds.

Groundbreaking Discoveries at the Site

This year's excavations revealed two significant artifacts. The first is a T-shaped pillar carved with a three-dimensional human face—the first such discovery in the region, strongly supporting the theory that these iconic pillars symbolized human figures. The second is a collection of artifacts that may constitute the world's oldest three-dimensional narrative. According to the magazine, these finds provide rare insight into the complex symbolic expression of Pre-Pottery Neolithic communities in Anatolia over 10,000 years ago.

A Pillar in Understanding Neolithic Culture

Necmi Karul, head of the excavation, stated the facial discovery confirms the human symbolism of the pillars. The site is a cornerstone of the Tas Tepeler project, which investigates the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to early farming communities in Upper Mesopotamia. Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy heralded the recognition, expressing his belief that the ongoing scientific work will establish the area as the "world’s Neolithic capital."