New Possible Astronomic Alignments at the Megalithic Site of Göbekli Tepe, Turkey

A new analysis of Göbekli Tepe, one of the world's oldest and most significant megalithic sites, reveals previously unidentified astronomical alignments. Researchers found that two enclosures (F and A) are oriented toward specific celestial events: Enclosure F aligns with the sunrise during the Harvest Festival, while Enclosure A points to the moon's minor standstill at its highest declination. These discoveries, derived from precise calculations accounting for atmospheric extinction, challenge earlier astronomical dating by Collins (2013) but remain consistent with radiocarbon-based chronologies proposed by Dietrich (2011). The study suggests that these alignments may reflect cultural or ritual significance, offering fresh insights into the site's possible functions and the advanced astronomical knowledge of its builders.

Lorenzis, A. D., & Orofino, V. (2015). New Possible Astronomic Alignments at the Megalithic Site of Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. Archaeological Discovery, 03(01), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.4236/ad.2015.31005