№ 142/2025 from Sep 09, 2025

Prehistoric archaeologists at Freie Universität Berlin have been invited to contribute their expertise to a new international collaboration that will carry out research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Göbekli Tepe. Located in southeast Turkey, Göbekli Tepe is famous for its elaborately carved T-shaped limestone pillars and is widely considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world. Constructed over 10,000 years ago, it is one of the first known examples of human-made monumental architecture and was constructed during one of the most important transitions in human history, namely the shift from hunter-gatherer lifeways to the first farming economies. As such, it raises many questions regarding human development that archaeologists are continuing to investigate to this day.

Together with İstanbul University, the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), and the Austrian Archaeological Institute (OeAI), researchers from Freie Universität’s Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology will be providing new input through their expertise on early hunter-gatherer communities and the role of social organization in creating monumental structures. A main focus of their involvement will be on the use of innovative, nondestructive analytical approaches, recently developed and tested in the Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology’s newly established Field & Finds Lab. The lab combines research methods from cultural studies with the latest technological developments, opening up new, interdisciplinary avenues for investigating the material culture of prehistoric societies.

“It is a great honor to have been invited to collaborate at Göbekli Tepe! Not only is this an opportunity for us to continue our many years of research into monumentality among hunter-gatherer groups – and the societal and economic processes that fueled them – but it is also a chance to work together with notable partners at a landmark location,” says Professor Henny Piezonka, director of the Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology.

Freie Universität Berlin was already involved in interpreting some of the findings from Göbekli Tepe through its Institute for Near Eastern Archaeology. The participation of the Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology in the new international project is an important step in further raising awareness of the university’s archaeological research in a global context. Dr. Lee Clare from the DAI is leading the archaeological work on-site. The collaboration forms part of the Şanlıurfa Neolithic Research Project, also known as the Taş Tepeler project, which Professor Necmi Karul from İstanbul University leads and coordinates. Currently, thirty-three universities and institutions from around the world are involved in the project. The scope of the Taş Tepeler project means that it offers excellent opportunities for the field of prehistoric archaeology and for specialists to establish long-term research connections.

Early-career researchers at Freie Universität Berlin will also benefit from the collaboration, as it will provide them with unique opportunities to contribute to prestigious international and interdisciplinary projects and gain practical experience at one of the most significant sites for prehistoric archaeologists in the world – something that is sure to greatly benefit teaching and research in the future.