11,000-Year-Old Composite Statue Found in Karahantepe, Şanlıurfa
This rare artifact from the Neolithic period combines human and animal figures on a single stone, shedding light on the symbolic world of settled life in the region.
During excavation works in Karahantepe, Şanlıurfa, a 70-centimeter-tall composite statue dating back approximately 11,000 years, depicting a human figure sitting on the back of a leopard, was discovered.
Details and Location of the Discovery
The statue, unearthed during excavations conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was found inside a three-meter-diameter structure on a bench extending along the wall. It was determined that the artifact has survived to the present day without deterioration at the spot where it was left approximately 11,000 years ago.
Archaeological and Artistic Significance
Archaeologist Mesut Alp stated that the piece is one of the rare examples of Neolithic art where human and animal figures are combined on a single stone. This finding provides important data regarding the symbolic bond that the first settled communities in the region established with nature and wild animals.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy expressed that this unique discovery will bring about new academic discussions regarding the earliest periods of human history.