A discovery in Türkiye in 2025 It contains the first human facial representation carved on a monolith dating from the Neolithic period. The discovery made at the site of Karahantepeadds a new layer to how prehistoric societies conceived the symbolism of their own identity.
Archaeologists excavating in Türkiye, as part of the Proyecto Stone Hillsassure that this stone pillar is not a simple decorative element, but rather the tangible confirmation of something that until now was only a theory since The “T” shaped pillars represented complete human figures.
Before this discovery, these monoliths only showed arms, hands or animal motifs, interpreted as abstract anthropomorphic symbols.
With deeply indented eyes, wide nose and well-defined facial contours, the uncovered stone offers a direct evidence of human self-representation in Neolithic art.
This pillar, carved approximately 12,000 years ago, was found in a structure designated for domestic use, raising new questions about the role these symbols played in the daily lives of the ancient inhabitants of Türkiye.
Was it a domestic object with ritual significance? A portrait of revered ancestors? Or, perhaps, an early form of “self-representation”?
The researchers maintain that this finding not only expands our knowledge of the prehistoric artbut also rethinks how we understand self-perception in early human societies.
What experts say about this discovery in Türkiye
Necmi Karulprofessor in charge of the research, slipped: «Until now, we believed that the stones we unearthed represented humans, but this was the first time we found a real facial representation. It was an incredibly exciting moment.»
And he added, archaeobotany Ceren Kabukcuabout this find: «an evolved and highly qualified example of artistic complexity.» «The more examples we discover, the more we realize that this world was much more complex, beyond what we can imagine.»
