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Mehmet Nuri Ersoy Announces Discovery of 11,000-Year-Old Composite Sculpture at Karahantepe Site

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery of an 11,000-year-old composite sculpture in southeastern Türkiye. The artifact, which depicts a human figure seated on the back of a leopard, was unearthed during the 2026 excavation season at the Karahantepe site in the Şanlıurfa province. Ersoy described the sculpture as a unique find for the site, measuring approximately 70 centimeters in length. It was located on a bench along the wall of a circular structure with a paved stone floor. The discovery is part of the "Heritage to the Future" project, which aims to research and preserve archaeological sites across the country. Karahantepe is located near the famous Göbeklitepe site and is part of the "Stone Hills" region. These Neolithic settlements provide evidence of early human communities transitioning from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled societies. Ersoy stated that the discovery will have a significant impact on the scientific community by opening new questions regarding the earliest periods of human history.

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