Prehistory Decoded

Enclosure C, Gobekli Tepe The aim of science is simple. We aim to create consistent models of reality. If we can model everything perfectly (within the bounds of measurement uncertainty), i.e. explain everything, then there is no practical difference between our models and the truth. Ultimately, then, we seek the truth. Some scientist don't believe this, but this is how I see it. Religion used to be how this was achieved, but religions are not flexible enough to adapt to new information. They are too rigid. The advantage of science is that is infinitely adaptable; it changes to fit whatever the latest and best information is. Or, at least, it should (maybe even science has become too monolithic and politically motivated recently, with too much inertia in certain areas). Moreover, science uses mathematics and probability to find the most likely way forward; which explanation is most likely to be correct? Which brings us to Occam's razor. Occam's razor is an excellent guide i...

There are numerous symbolic links between Catalhoyuk (Central Turkey, 7100-6000 BCE) and Gobekli Tepe (southern Turkey, ~10,000-8000 BCE) that show they probably knew the same (or similar) astronomical zodiacal system. The Master/Mistress-of-Animals First, see here for a list of known 'Master/Mistress-of-Animals' symbols from around the Near Eastern region. Above is a 3rd millennium BCE example from Ur, Mesopotamia. We also have a Mistress-of-Animals, or Potnia Theron, at Catalhoyuk (above). This shows symbolism from the 8th millennium BCE survived until the Bronze and Iron Ages. We now also have a Master-of-Animals at Sayburc, one of the Tas Tepeler sites and only around 25 km from Gobekli Tepe (above). This suggests it is possible for symbolism to survive from the time of Gobekli Tepe through to the Bronze and Iron ages too. If these symbols can survive this long, then so can constellations and their symbols. Catalhoyuk Wall Reliefs Now consider that at Catalhoyuk, there are...

From Barkai and Liran, Time and Mind 1, 273-284 (2008). Barkai and Liran (2008) suggest the stone tower at Jericho was an astronomical observation platform, used primarily for tracking the setting sun on the summer solstice. Jericho, an early Neolithic town excavated by Kathleen Kenyon's team in the 1950's, is famous for its massive stone tower and walls. The tower was built around 8000 BCE, meaning it overlapped with Gobekli Tepe. A remarkable feat for the time. The tower, like the great Pyramids of Egypt, is penetrated by a shaft with apparent astronomical alignments. In this case, the shaft forms a set of very steep stairs. Their orientation (azimuth) is around 290 degrees, quite close to the summer solstice sunset at this latitude and time (299 degrees). However, anyone climbing the stairs would have exited at the top and faced almost directly towards  Mount Quruntul with its conical peak at 1300 m. In fact, the sun sets on the shoulder of Quruntul, at azimuth 293 degrees, ...

  Above are three stone plaquettes from Tepe Guyan, Iran, 5th millennium BCE (from Wikipedia). On the left is a likely Master-of-Animals. Note the triangular anthropomorphic body holding two snakes, a common Master-of-Animals motif. In the middle is probably the same deity/constellation with the same triangular body wrestling a long snake with stars in the background. But note the long beak looking to (our) right. On the right is probably the same figure again, also wrestling a long snake with more stars in the background and some V-symbols. These are clearly the same constellation, probably a pre-cursor to Ophiuchus. They suggest that early versions of Ophiuchus imagined the constellation symbol to have the head of a long-beaked bird, and a triangular shaped body. Above is a scene from Stellarium, showing that Ophiuchus is the autumn equinox constellation from around 4100 BCE to 3600 BCE. Before 4100 BCE, the autumn equinox constellation is Sagittarius, and after 3600 BCE it is Sc...