Bananas for Scale
Gobekli Tepe

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Gobekli Tepe

A temple complex older than agriculture itself/Archaeology & Antiquities

Gobekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey is the oldest known monumental structure built by humans, dating to approximately 9500 BC, making it roughly 11,500 years old. The site predates pottery, writing, the wheel, and even agriculture. It consists of massive T-shaped limestone pillars arranged in circles, carved with elaborate animal reliefs including foxes, lions, and vultures. The tallest pillars stand about 5.5 meters high and weigh up to 10 tonnes. Only about 5% of the site has been excavated so far.

Measurements

Known site area90,000 m^2
1.8 millionTortillas
360,000Monopoly boards
450Movie screens
Tallest pillar height5.5 m
8.33Clarinet lengths
22Tambourine diameters
Heaviest pillar10,000 kg
1,000Bicycles
3.3 tenthsLoaded cement mixers
222Grocery carts
Largest enclosure diameter20 m
25.7 trillionthsJupiter orbit radii
21.9Walking canes
4.08Garage doors
Age363 billion s
9.8 tenthsHolocene eras
2 billionCommercial breaks

Built circa 9500 BC

Pillar width3 m
25 millionCoronaviruses
26.3Popsicle lengths
1,500Ant body lengths
Browse more in Archaeology & Antiquities