Archaeologists in Turkey Discover One of the Oldest Sculptures Depicting a Human
Dating back further than the dawn of agriculture.
It’s incredible to think that artists today, despite changes in culture and technology, are still creating sculptures that are aesthetically similar to the work of antiquity. Think spindly figures of Alberto Giacometti in the 20th century or primitive concoctions from contemporary artists, such as Huma Bhabha or Sir Antony Gormley, who have equally become meteoric figures in their own right.
Archaeologists in Turkey recently unearthed a seven foot tall artwork that is being hailed as one of the oldest sculptures depicting a human in history. Dating back to 9,400 BCE, the statue shows clearly recognizable facial features, as well as a carved spine, ribs, and shoulders.
The excavation took place in Karahan Tepe, a prehistoric site in Southeastern Turkey, which neighbors deeply religious communities, such as Göbekli Tepe, which is said to be connected to the biblical account of Noah. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the excavated artwork is “one of the most realistic sculptures of the period” — even older than the dawn of agriculture.
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