The Monuments

Explore the enigmatic T-shaped pillars and the intricate symbolism carved into stone 12,000 years ago.

T
The T-Shaped Pillars
The most distinctive feature of Göbekli Tepe is its T-shaped limestone pillars. These are thought to represent stylized human beings, with the horizontal bar representing the head and the vertical shaft the body. Some pillars even have arms and hands carved into the sides.
Symbolism & Animals
The pillars are adorned with reliefs of wild animals: lions, bulls, boars, foxes, gazelles, snakes, other reptiles, and birds. These likely represent totemic symbols or guardians, rather than a menu of hunted animals.
Image of Pillar 43 (Vulture Stone)

Pillar 43: The Vulture Stone

Located in Enclosure D, Pillar 43 is one of the most famous and debated monuments. It features a vulture holding an orb or egg, a scorpion, and various other birds and animals.

Some researchers interpret this as a depiction of a catastrophic event, possibly a comet strike that triggered the Younger Dryas cooling period. Others see it as a complex mythological scene or a map of the stars.

Image of Pillar 18

Pillar 18: The Anthropomorphic Giant

Standing in the center of Enclosure D, Pillar 18 is one of the largest, weighing around 50 tons. It clearly shows human features: arms resting on a belt, a fox pelt loincloth, and a necklace.

The faceless nature of these central pillars suggests they represent deities or ancestors whose power was too great to be depicted with individual human faces.