Neolithic pieces from the oldest worship place Kahin Tepe, which is a place in the northern province of Kastamonu’s Araç district, have been excavated. The findings date back to the Aceramic Neolithic period, a period that lasted between 12,000 and 7,000 B.C.
After excavating this Black Sea region for two years, for a dam rescue project, these remains are unearthed. The remains are well-planned and are square and circular stone walls at the top of a hill. The findings also consist of stone standings. The team of Archeologist found many similarities between the unearthings at Kahin Tepe and those of Göbekli Tepe. Göbekli Tepe is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Turkey.
The work is going on under the experts of the Kastamonu Museum Directorate. The Anadolu Agency and some students are working on this site. According to a consultant from this team, Dr. Nurperi Ayengi of Düzce University, these findings will lead to a greater revelation of animals who were worshipped as Gods in the Aceramic Neolithic period and will change the history of Anatolia. She stated that people came to this strategic location to worship, maybe to hunt, share their knowledge, and make making sculptures of animals. Aceramic Neolithic period was a period of very complex religious beliefs, and that was and still is its main factor and is known for the time before the invention of pottery.
Kahin Tepe is believed to be the oldest worship place in the Black Sea discovered until now. It has provided light to the fact that religion was a vital component in the process of evolution and civilization. Many T-shaped pillars and stones workshops which were used to make sculptures especially of animals have also been found in the past.
Since the project has been started in 2018, a series of extraordinary facts and findings are getting uncovered, many of them are still not discovered and as noted by Dr. Ayengi ” much bigger discoveries await us”.
