Karahantepe is a newly discovered Neolithic archaeological site located near the village of Gürcütepe in the Şanlıurfa province of Southeastern Turkey. Dating back to roughly the same period as Göbeklitepe, around 9500–9000 BCE, Karahantepe features monumental T-shaped stone pillars and carved motifs that reflect early communal and ritual practices. Although smaller and less explored than Göbeklitepe, the site provides critical insights into the development of early human ceremonial architecture and social organization. Ongoing excavations continue to reveal the complexity of this early temple culture, highlighting the ingenuity of hunter-gatherer communities before the advent of permanent settlements.
