Prehistoric animal figurines discovered in Türkiye tell story of myth making

Archaeologists in south eastern Türkiye have unearthed carved stone animals that shed new light on how prehistoric people told stories. A fox, a vulture, and a wild boar—each about 3.5 cm tall—date back some 11,500 years.

They were found in a small container covered with a stone lid, with each figurine’s head placed inside a limestone ring.

Archaeologists believe the trio, discovered at the Karahantepe archaeological site, is the first known example of objects being deliberately arranged to convey a narrative.

Head of excavations at Karahantepe, Necmi Karul said they items explain.

“Telling a story undoubtedly brings to mind storytellers. Engraving them on stone reveals the existence of masters and artists. But perhaps most importantly, it proves that the communities who knew those stories had a shared memory."

"Undoubtedly, the most important outcome of this method is perhaps that, assuming that a new order of life, or rather a new social order, sedentism, that replaced the hunter-gatherer, wanderer lifestyle that had continued for millions of years, gave rise to a new social order," he added.

Unearthed late last year, the artifacts are now on display for the first time at the Presidential Complex in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, alongside other items found at Karahantepe, which dates back to 9,500 BC. The discovery highlights the sophistication of prehistoric art.

“When modern people compare themselves to the past, they always place themselves at the top with this progressive approach, as the most modern. Consequently, they approach their predecessors with a somewhat disdainful gaze. This is one of the most unhealthy aspects of modern societies. Places like Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe offer a good opportunity to remind us of this. They demonstrate just how accomplished people were in art and narrative 12,000 years ago.”

Karahantepe is one of the earliest settlements of the Neolithic period. Nearby Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is believed to be the world’s oldest.

Both are part of the broader Tas Tepeler project, which includes multiple Neolithic settlements across Türkiye’s Sanliurfa province where excavations are ongoing.

"Modern people always place themselves at the pinnacle when compared to the past," he said. "Karahantepe shows us how successful people were in art and storytelling 11,000-12,000 years ago."

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