Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 5 hrs ago
Göbeklitepe graves point to a natural origin for scattered human bones
Archaeologists have catalogued 928 scattered human bone fragments at Göbeklitepe, an ancient site in southeastern Türkiye.
Many were found mixed into the fill of its large buildings, leading to debate about how they got there.
The site’s first two intact graves suggest a natural explanation: bones may have moved downhill from graves beneath homes.
One grave, found in 2017, held the remains of at least three people beneath the plaster floor of a building.
Göbeklitepe was built over about 1,600 years, as people in the region shifted from foraging to farming.
The findings add to evidence that people lived at the site, rather than using it only as a gathering place.
They may also help explain why so many human bones ended up in the buildings.
The first two intact graves at Göbeklitepe suggest many scattered human bone fragments may have moved downhill from graves beneath homes.
Archaeologists have catalogued 928 human bone fragments at the site, most mixed into the fill of its large pillared buildings.
Researchers say the fragments may reflect natural processes rather than unusual treatment of the dead.
One grave, found in 2017, contained the remains of at least three people.
The findings add to evidence that Göbeklitepe included dwellings and domestic activity, not only a gathering place.
- Who
- Archaeologists Julia Gresky and Lee Clare wrote the study.
- What
- Two intact graves suggest scattered human bones may have moved downhill from graves under homes.
- When
- The first grave was found in 2017; the study was published in PLOS ONE.
- Where
- Göbeklitepe, in southeastern Türkiye.
- Why
- The graves point to natural processes as an explanation for the scattered bones.
Earlier ritual-site interpretation
Recent domestic-occupation interpretation
Site function
Earlier ritual-site interpretation
The site was viewed as a ritual gathering place where nomadic hunter-gatherers came and left.
Recent domestic-occupation interpretation
Researchers cite increasing evidence for dwellings and domestic activities throughout the site's sequence.
Meaning of scattered bones
Earlier ritual-site interpretation
The bones appeared to support the view of the site as a ritual centre.
Recent domestic-occupation interpretation
The study suggests natural processes moved bones from graves under homes into the buildings' fill.
These scattered fragments in the special buildings are not a weird treatment, but the result of natural processes.
For me, that’s the big discovery.
The narrative emerged that it was a ritual site where nomadic hunter-gatherers came once a year and then left.
Excavations began at Göbeklitepe, where archaeologists have since found human bone fragments.
A grave was found during work on a drainage channel for the site's protective roof.
Göbeklitepe was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.
- Bone fragments catalogued
- 928
- Skull fragments
- 408
- Other body fragments
- 283
- First grave found
- 2017
- Site location
- About 9 miles (15 kilometers) northeast of Şanlıurfa
Sources
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