Historic Gobekli Tepe website meets conspiracy theories — and Joe Rogan : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3790x2369+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd9%2F68%2F71b003804b8c93b34801f165caf9%2Fgettyimages-2201579008.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3790x2369+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd9%2F68%2F71b003804b8c93b34801f165caf9%2Fgettyimages-2201579008.jpg" class="img" alt="A view of the ancient site of Gobekli Tepe, known as the world's oldest temple, in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on Feb. 17." fetchpriority="high"/> A view of the traditional website of Gobekli Tepe, often called the world's oldest temple, in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on Feb. 17. Mustafa Hatipoglu/Anadolu through Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Mustafa Hatipoglu/Anadolu through Getty Photographs GOBEKLI TEPE, Turkey — Tour information Sabahattin Alkan herds curious vacationers by means of the scorching afternoon warmth, luring them with the promise of one thing far stranger than your typical trip snap.

"Over right here on the precise, you see a spaceship landed not too long ago," he says with a smile.

He is joking. Largely. However extra on that in a minute.

We're within the Urfa plain, a dry, dusty stretch about 25 miles from the Turkish-Syrian border.

That "spaceship" is definitely only a curved roof. However what lies beneath the dome has sparked a long time of thriller, curiosity — and conspiracy.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x1200+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faa%2F19%2F22dc07d94954b915ae90497526b5%2Fgobekli-tepe-11.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x1200+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faa%2F19%2F22dc07d94954b915ae90497526b5%2Fgobekli-tepe-11.jpeg" class="img" alt="One of the T-shaped pillars at Gobekli Tepe, depicting a bull, a fox and a crane. Scientists have spent decades trying to decode the story behind the symbols." loading="lazy"/> One of many T-shaped pillars at Gobekli Tepe, depicting a bull, a fox and a crane. Scientists have spent a long time attempting to decode the story behind the symbols. Rebecca Rosman for NPR disguise caption

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Rebecca Rosman for NPR "It is fairly an attention-grabbing place, truly," Alkan assures his viewers.

He is speaking about Gobekli Tepe, one of many oldest recognized archaeological websites on Earth, relationship again almost 12,000 years.

Alkan factors to T-shaped limestone pillars carved with human arms, arms resting on stomachs, and wild animals: lions, foxes, boars, scorpions and birds amongst them.

Klaus Schmidt, the German archaeologist who led the location's first main excavations within the Nineteen Nineties, referred to as Gobekli Tepe "the world's oldest temple," theorizing that it introduced collectively nomadic hunter-gatherers from throughout the Center East.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2835x1883+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2Fb9%2Fed2c94e849cd8410fabaca846f62%2Fgettyimages-1245984305.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2835x1883+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F24%2Fb9%2Fed2c94e849cd8410fabaca846f62%2Fgettyimages-1245984305.jpg" class="img" alt="German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, who pioneered excavations at the ancient site of Gobekli Tepe, carries out research in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on May 18, 2008." loading="lazy"/> German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, who pioneered excavations on the historical website of Gobekli Tepe, carries out analysis in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on Might 18, 2008. Mehmet Guldas/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Mehmet Guldas/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs Right this moment, that view has shifted. Some now interpret it as a ceremonial gathering website, whereas others recommend it functioned as a social hub the place rituals helped bind collectively early communities.

Emilie Salvesen, a tour operator visiting the location, says the query of whether or not there was a non secular element to the location nonetheless fascinates her.

"Did they expertise the divine in the way in which that we would consider it immediately?" she asks, gesturing towards one of many inscribed pillars. "I think about it was far more existential."

The reality? Nonetheless principally a thriller.

Scientists are often adjusting their hypotheses concerning the website's meant goal. And it is not a straightforward investigation.

"No matter we inform now, I do not know if will probably be correct info or not, as a result of perhaps our thought will change in one other 50 years," Alkan says. "We're attempting to foretell 12,000 years in the past."

However that uncertainty has thrown the door vast open for one particular group on the lookout for solutions: conspiracy theorists.

Conspiracy theories take root — with assist from Joe Rogan Graham Hancock, a British journalist and star of the controversial Netflix sequence Historic Apocalypse, has theorized — with out empirical proof — that Gobekli Tepe was constructed by a "misplaced civilization" worn out by an Ice Age cataclysm.

As soon as confined to the fringes, theories like Hancock's have gained mainstream traction — thanks largely to Joe Rogan, whose massively in style podcast has change into a platform for various takes on science and historical past.

In November 2024, one other Gobekli Tepe conspiracy theorist, Jimmy Corsetti, a YouTuber and self-described "historical historical past investigator," appeared on Rogan's podcast, bringing with him a slew of speculations and wild theories concerning the website.

Amongst them, Corsetti accused archaeologists of deliberately dragging their ft and hiding key discoveries concerning the website.

"We're speaking about pillars buried in dust. It is 2024. Do not inform me we do not have the know-how!" Corsetti advised Rogan.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2994+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2F8aed704c4170aef0217228c4c8de%2Fgettyimages-1241209826.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2994+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2F8aed704c4170aef0217228c4c8de%2Fgettyimages-1241209826.jpg" class="img" alt="An aerial view shows archaeologists and workers at Gobekli Tepe on May 18, 2022." loading="lazy"/> An aerial view reveals archaeologists and employees at Gobekli Tepe on Might 18, 2022. Ozan Kose/AFP through Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Ozan Kose/AFP through Getty Photographs Corsetti accused archaeologists of shifting slowly on goal, maybe to protect the thriller and hold the curious vacationers coming.

Solely a small proportion of the location has been dug up since excavations started within the mid-Nineteen Nineties. And with Rogan's platform behind them, theorists like Corsetti have helped flip that gradual progress right into a supply of world suspicion.

A scientist responds Lee Clare, an archaeologist who has led the excavation website for over a decade, has heard all of it — together with the outlandish theories.

Talking from his workplace in Istanbul, with the Bosporus glinting behind him, Clare shrugs off the conspiracists.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x1200+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2Fe0%2Ff886d50d4b4fadf4315ec5bee83e%2Flee-clare-2.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1600x1200+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2Fe0%2Ff886d50d4b4fadf4315ec5bee83e%2Flee-clare-2.jpeg" class="img" alt="Archaeologist Lee Clare, photographed at his office in Istanbul, has overseen the Gobekli Tepe archaeological site for over a decade." loading="lazy"/> Archaeologist Lee Clare, photographed at his workplace in Istanbul, has overseen the Gobekli Tepe archaeological website for over a decade. Rebecca Rosman for NPR disguise caption

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Rebecca Rosman for NPR "A few of these guys go to the location for half an hour and suppose they'll clarify the entire website," he says of the budding conspiracy theorists.

With regards to Gobekli Tepe, Clare says archaeologists aren't hiding something. They're attempting to guard it.

"You'll be able to't simply bulldoze a website to get all the pieces out. That is the incorrect method," he says.

In different phrases, archaeology strikes slowly for a motive. Each layer tells a part of the story. And when you dig by means of every layer, it is gone for good, as are its secrets and techniques.

"Why would I be so egocentric as to dig your entire website … and take these potentialities away from future generations of archaeologists?"

Clare says he grew up taking part in with toy dinosaurs and all the time wished to be an archaeologist. He by no means anticipated to finish up the goal of conspiracy theories. However right here we're.

"It goes onto the non-public degree as nicely," he says, which is why he deleted his social media accounts.

"I wish to keep sane on this state of affairs."

12,000 years of storytelling The true hazard right here is not simply misinformation, in accordance with Clare. It is that these competing narratives danger drowning out the true story, the one scientists have spent a long time attempting to correctly decode.

"There are numerous narratives on the market about Gobekli Tepe. The query is, whose narrative is appropriate? And I feel we'll by no means know."

One of many few issues scientists do know for certain?

Gobekli Tepe is proof that people have been storytellers relationship again not less than 12,000 years.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2994+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0a%2Fc8%2F6a165a0f444abf15223f0db9f86b%2Fgettyimages-1241210304.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2994+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0a%2Fc8%2F6a165a0f444abf15223f0db9f86b%2Fgettyimages-1241210304.jpg" class="img" alt="Visitors look at pillars at the archaeological site of Gobekli Tepe in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on May 18, 2022." loading="lazy"/> Guests have a look at pillars on the archaeological website of Gobekli Tepe in Sanliurfa, Turkey, on Might 18, 2022. Ozan Kose/AFP through Getty Photographs disguise caption