Episode Details

Archaeologists in northwestern Turkey recently discovered approximately 25 turtle figurines carved from limestone and clay, dating back roughly 16,500 years. Found within İn Cave near Gedikkaya Hill, these Epipaleolithic artifacts suggest the site served as an important location for prehistoric rituals rather than just domestic living. Experts believe the roughly shaped sculptures were placed upright in the soil as part of ceremonial traditions by hunter-gatherer societies. One compelling theory proposes that these figures represent a mountain cult, as the nearby hillside physically resembles the shape of a turtle. This significant find offers a rare glimpse into the symbolic spiritual life of humans living in Anatolia during the late Ice Age. While further analysis is required, the discovery underscores the deep-seated cultural reverence for turtles long before the rise of settled agriculture.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". George Santayana

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