Exhibition Explores Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe as Early Human Settlements

The Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin is presenting the exhibition 'Gebaute Gemeinschaft' (Built Community), focusing on the archaeological sites of Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe in Turkey. These sites, dating back approximately 12,000 years, feature monumental structures with T-shaped stone pillars weighing up to 20 tons, created by hunter-gatherer societies before the advent of agriculture. Museum director Barbara Helwing explains in an interview that these structures represent early communal gathering places, possibly for rituals, with sculptures depicting humans and animals like leopards. The exhibition showcases original artifacts, many displayed internationally for the first time, and highlights ongoing international research through the Taş Tepeler project. The show runs until July 19, 2026, at the James-Simon-Galerie.