Further Applications of Social Cognition to Göbekli Tepe

Göbekli Tepe, a prehistoric site challenging conventional narratives of human history, is reinterpreted through the lens of social identity theory. This approach suggests that cognitive processes played a pivotal role in its construction and use during the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled, stratified communities. The study integrates psychological concepts into cognitive archaeology, proposing that social-cognitive mechanisms underpinned the site's advent and utility. By synthesizing existing archaeological evidence with theoretical frameworks, it advances our understanding of how early human groups organized themselves socially and symbolically.

Henley, T. B., & Reysen, S. (2023). Further Applications of Social Cognition to Göbekli Tepe. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 23(1-2), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685373-12340152