VIDEO The 12,000 Year Old City (Oldest City on Earth)

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The 12,000 Year Old City (Oldest City on Earth) This intriguing YouTube video takes viewers on an exploration of Göbekli Tepe, the oldest known architectural site on Earth, located in Turkey near the border of Syria. The narrator and his crew share their firsthand experiences in this historical area, which dates back to the Neolithic period—approximately 12,000 years ago.

Key Highlights​

1. Introduction to Göbekli Tepe: The video starts with a stark realization of the site's significance, emphasizing its age and historical context. Göbekli Tepe is believed to have been built by hunter-gatherers, challenging conventional perceptions of early human societies.
2. Historical Context: The narrator discusses the site's discovery in the 1990s, initiated by a farmer who found a stone and brought it to an archaeological museum. This led to extensive excavations by the German archaeological community, uncovering monumental structures thought to be temples.
3. Architecture and Significance: The structures consist of massive limestone pillars, some weighing up to 15 tons and standing 27 feet tall. The carvings on these stones include depictions of various animals, revealing the artistic capabilities of people who managed to construct these structures without written language or advanced tools.
4. Purpose of the Site: Unlike previous beliefs that such sites were dedicated to agriculture, there's a burgeoning idea that Göbekli Tepe served primarily as a religious space for communal gatherings, comparable to important pilgrimage sites like Jerusalem or Mecca.
5. Impact and Theories: The site raises questions about the social dynamics of Neolithic peoples, particularly how hunter-gatherers could come together to create such an elaborate sanctuary, hinting at a complex societal structure that supported collaboration on a large scale.

   Discussion Points​

   • Cultural Significance of Göbekli Tepe: It's posited that the site represents a pivotal shift in human civilization, where spirituality and community built the foundation for future societal developments.
   • Comparison with Other Ancient Sites: The video invites viewers to consider Göbekli Tepe alongside other ancient constructions like Stonehenge, noting that it predates it significantly, by thousands of years.
   • Rethinking Prehistoric Humanity: The findings at this site compel us to reevaluate our understanding of early human societies, showing that they were capable of complex planning and communal efforts long before agriculture became the norm. This voice-over exploration not only serves to inform but also to marvel at the ingenuity of our ancestors, providing a rich topic for further discussion among forum members. What are your views on how these discoveries influence our understanding of human civilization? Have you visited any ancient sites that left you in awe? Feel free to share your experiences or thoughts!