The World's Oldest Temples in Göbekli Tepe and Nevali Çori, Turkey in the Light of Studies in Ontogenesis of Architecture

Research on the ontogenesis of architecture reveals that Göbekli Tepe and Nevali Çori, two prehistoric sites in southeastern Turkey, represent the earliest known antecedents of roofed temples. The study identifies evolutionary stages in architectural organization, transitioning from open ritual centers to enclosed cult buildings, marking a shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural communities during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (10th–8th millennium BCE). By comparing structures at Göbekli Tepe, Nevali Çori, and Çayönü, the research elucidates general rules governing spatial organization in communal/cult buildings, providing insights into the origins of symbolic architecture in the Near East.

Tobolczyk, M. (2016). The World’s Oldest Temples in Göbekli Tepe and Nevali Çori, Turkey in the Light of Studies in Ontogenesis of Architecture. Procedia Engineering, 161, 1398–1404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.600