Karahantepe

Karahantepe is located 60 km east of Şanlıurfa. With a history of 12,000 years, Şanlıurfa, believed by some to be the ancient city of Ur Kaśdim (Ur of the Chaldeans), proudly exhibits the legacy of all the civilizations that have prospered in the region.

Şanlıurfa is regarded as a holy site by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. According to the Old Testament, the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), the "father of the three monotheistic religions," was born in the city of Ur Kaśdim and, together with his family, he migrated to Harran, the "home of patriarchs." In the second millennium BC, the lands of Şanlıurfa were home to a city of a Hurrite state. Some believe that Abraham was born in a cave near the place where the Mevlid Halil Mosque stands now. The site and the cave itself are regarded as sacred.

It is interesting that there were so many Neolithic places in very close vicinity, such as Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Nevali Çori are located almost in the same area. The Neolithic settlements of Nevali Çori and the mounds of Lidar Höyük, Gre Virike, and Hessek Höyük are proof of the earliest inhabitants of the region dating back to 8500 BC.

Recent archaeological work suggests that Karahantepe might be even earlier than Göbeklitepe, and this places the site to be the earliest known Neolithic site in the world. Just like in Nevali Çori and Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe also has a similar layout, and “T” shaped obelisks, around 250 of which were unearthed so far. As part of the “Göbeklitepe Culture and Karahantepe Excavations” project, surface surveys were initiated two years ago by İstanbul University in the area, known as “Keçilitepe” by the people of the region. The works are headed by Professor Necmi Karul. The archaeological finds at Karahantepe and all Şanlıurfa area keep changing the world's known history.