The Yunus Emre Institute Streams Suspended Archaeology Lecture
Esteemed Archaeologist Dr. Lee Clare Discusses the Wonders of One of the Oldest Archaeological Sites in the World.
For the first time ever, Yunus Emre Institute live-streamed an event over Zoom and Facebook after canceling the original program due to the COVID-19 outbreak around the world. 25 Years of Research at Göbekli Tepe: A Summary of Past and Recent Results examined the research that has come out of the Göbekli Tepe archaeological site. The dig site is in Şanlıurfa, which is located in Southeastern Turkey and remains a crucial place for understanding humanity’s origins. Viewers were able to enjoy a full understanding of this magnificent archaeological site with a lecture from project coordinator, Dr. Lee Clare, followed by a Q&A session for curious attendees. This was only made possible by the advances that video-conferencing software has made in recent years.
While Göbekli Tepe was discovered in 1963 through the Southeastern Anatolia Prehistoric Research Joint Project of Istanbul and Chicago universities, its excavation began in 1995 under the Şanlıurfa Museum Director, Adnan Mısır and then-German Archaeological Institute’ Istanbul’s Branch Director Harald Hauptmann. The excavations have completely altered our understanding of this important site and the Neolithic period. Blades, stones, and pieces of pottery found at the dig site have given us more insight into the tools that early humans were actively using during this time period. These tools were used to carve out images of animals on the iconic obelisks that define Göbekli Tepe and are part of what make it so historically intriguing.
Dr. Clare shared fascinating details about his team’s recent findings at Göbekli Tepe and the important discoveries that were made in the past since excavation began. For example, they recently discovered that the site was filled in by natural mudslides and not by ritual filling. Many people asked for more detail about the significance of certain structures and the process behind their research. Several had questions about the civilization that built the site, how to become an archaeologist, and how the site should be assessed as a part of human history. By the end of the event, viewers left with a better understanding of Göbekli Tepe’s importance and how Dr. Clare’s findings have advanced our understanding of human civilization and its development.
The Yunus Emre Foundation is a public foundation designed to educate the public about Turkey and its language, history, culture, and art. The Foundation makes such related information and documents available for use in the world. Facilitating cultural exchange between Turkey and other countries is a central objective of the Foundation. If you are interested in receiving more information, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr.
Tags: Archaeology, Youtube, Zoom, Facebook Live, Göbekli Tepe, Turkey, Turkish Culture, Turkish History, Dr. Lee Clare, Şanlıurfa, Webinar, Archaeologist, Neolithic, Ancient History, Prehistory.