Eastern Turkiye, September 8, 2026
Today took us further back in history than Abraham, to around 9,500 BC Neolithic sites in the Tas Tepeler area of northern Mesopotamia (southern Turkiye today). And if one needed more proof that God’s creation of humans was never as a stereotypical “caveman”, this is it!
The specific sites we visited were Gobeklitepe and Karahan Tepe. Archeologist know now that this entire area is filled with similar structures that seem to have a religious nature, but also show evidence of daily habitation / homes. Clearly there was not as straightforward a timeline between “hunter gatherers” and cultivation farming as has been traditionally thought. These site have left scientists with lots and lots of questions. To look at these structures and try to imagine creating them with flint and stone tools boggles the mind!
It was a long and jostling bus ride for us to get to these places as they are pretty remote. Belgin. our guide and translator and friend, had purchased a bag of fresh in-the-shell walnuts a few days ago and put them in the back with the luggage. Since then we have been entertained by walnuts rolling down the aisle - a nice snack - and when we are really out in the back roads we know it by the rattle of the walnuts 🤣 and they were shaking today!!
We ended back in Sanliurfa where we are staying a second night. We made a quick visit to the archeological museum here, especially to see finds from the sites we visited today.
Tomorrow we are moving on to the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, 163 BC to 72 AD, and Mount Nemrut!
Sleep well and God Bless! PB and Margery
For more Biblical travel photos and videos visit us at:
One of the large sculptures from Gobeklitepe on display at the Sanliurfa Archeological Museum
