Göbekli Tepe is a Neolithic archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The settlement was inhabited from around 9500 BCE to at least 8000 BCE, during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic. This 12,000-year-old complex, perched atop a rocky summit, is among the earliest evidence of humanity’s shift to permanent settlement. Over the past few decades, archaeologists have uncovered invaluable insights from the symbols etched into the site’s colossal stone pillars—some of the oldest megaliths known to man. A recent study reveals that certain carvings on these ancient monuments likely served as markers for solar days and years, suggesting that the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe may have created one of the earliest known calendars. This early society is believed to have been intensely focused on the changing seasons, particularly after a catastrophic comet strike around 10,850 B.C. that plunged the world into a mini ice age. “It appears the inhabitants of Gobekli Tepe were keen observers of the sky,” said lead study author Martin Sweatman from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering. “Which is to be expected given their world had been devastated by a comet strike.” Sweatman further speculated that the comet strike might have been a catalyst for the birth of civilization, possibly sparking a new religious movement and advancements in agriculture to combat the harsh climate. “The event might have triggered civilization by initiating a new religion and by motivating developments in agriculture to cope with the cold climate.” “Possibly, their attempts to record what they saw are the first steps toward the development of writing millennia later.” Remarkably, these ancient people may have even attempted to track meteor movements and predict future comet strikes. For a society 12,000 years ago, the creation of such a calendar was an extraordinary achievement. The post 12,000-year-old carvings at Göbekli Tepe may be the oldest calendar appeared first on Anomalien.com.