It is one of the first examples of human sculpture, made more than 11,000 years ago in Karahan Tepe, an ancient prehistoric temple in Turkey, built just 35 kilometers from the famous Göbekli Tepe. The unearthed statue measures about 2.3 meters high and represents a man in an extremely realistic way.
Its ribs, shoulders and spine are particularly pronounced and archaeologists from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism interpret that the figure could represent a deceased person. But the most surprising thing is that the giant appears holding onto his penis with both hands.
The work is similar in style to the sculpture of the Man of Urfa, also known as the Balikligöl giant. Sculpted about 10,300 years ago, during the pre-ceramic Neolithic, it was also found in southeastern Turkey during construction work in 1993 and until now was considered the oldest life-size naturalistic sculpture of a human being.
Since the construction of Karahan Tepe dates back to approximately 9,400 BC, the new discovery is believed to eclipse the Man of Urfa. The work was found fixed to the ground on a bench in this site that is considered one of the most important Neolithic settlements.
The figure has a realistic facial expression, a wide and strong "V-neck" motif and clearly carved ribs. Initial estimates indicate that it may be up to 11,400 years old and has arms that go down to its sides and are represented holding its phallus.
Unlike the Man of Urfa, his eyes have been carved, rather than being made of black obsidian. Furthermore, the Karahan Tepe Man is not balding, but rather has a thick beard and long hair, plus he is much taller than his counterpart.
This is not the only image that has caught the attention of researchers in recent days. At Göbekli Tepe, known to be the oldest place of religious worship in the world (6,000 years before Stonehenge), a life-size statue of a wild boar carved in limestone dating from between 8700 and 8200 BC has been discovered. .
The representation of the animal measures 1.4 meters long and 0.7 meters high, as explained in a statement by the experts from the German Archaeological Institute who are working on the ground. Archaeologists detected red, black and white pigments on its surface, indicating that the sculpture was once painted.
This “unique discovery” has been made among the material deposits in the northern part of the known as Special Building D. It was found on a stone bench, between two pillars, which made it a clear focal point of the structure “and "It must have had considerable importance for the prehistoric community that used it," say the specialists.
The wild boar's tongue was red, with black and white pigments found in other parts of its body, which would make this the first painted sculpture found. The front of the bench on which it stands is decorated with bas-reliefs of an H symbol, a crescent, two snakes and three human faces (or masks).
Nearby excavations also uncovered a statue of a bird with a beak, eyes and wings, which archaeologists believe represents a vulture. Representations of snakes, insects, birds, a rabbit and a gazelle had previously been discovered in Karahan Tepe, in the province of Şanlıurfa.
Excavations at UNESCO World Heritage Site Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe began in 2019, but archaeologists have known about the sites for about 30 years.
