On Feburuary 19th, 2010, Newsweek released an article regarding Gobekli Tepe in Turkey. The entire article is written around the concept that Gobekli Tepe is the world’s first temple, which seems to be what most people are assuming of the site. But, why?
I don’t understand how this conclusion was drawn, and I certainly do not believe (as some do) that it was the Garden (or Temple) of Eden.
These allegations are based on the facts that people did not live at the site, that the site would have been flourish and beautiful at the time, and it was surrounded by mountains. Wow. That’s quite a leap.
Is worship the only reason that you would leave your home to visit somewhere beautiful? Would you not travel outside your home to go to the park? Maybe meet with other people places for recreational events? Or event the world’s first market…. Who knows.
The possible reasons for Gobekli Tepe’s existence are endless. Unfortunately, the lead archeologist Klaust Schmidt just happens to be religious. As such, his first instinct was that the only reason man would build structures in what is assumed was a beautiful place at the time is for worship.
Newsweek’s article:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/233844/page/3
Heritage Key’s article to the contrary: