Wikimedia/Klaus-Peter SimonThe ‘Vulture Stone,’ found at Gobekli Tepe reveals how a comet struck Earth and changed the course of human history forever.
The ancient stone found in Turkey, covered in an ancient symbolic code, has now been deciphered to explain how a comet hit the Earth and altered the ways in which humans lived, the Telegraph reports.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, have meticulously analysed the eerie carvings on the pillars at the site of Gobekli Tepe and have now deemed the markings relate to star constellations.
The Vulture Stone of #Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First #Pictogram? – https://t.co/U6D8KA1eZk pic.twitter.com/pZIYnkSb7l
— ancient-origins (@ancientorigins) September 14, 2016
Scientists believe the etchings suggest a swarm of fragmented comets struck the planet at precisely the same time a mini-ice age was also taking place, around 11,000BC.
Baffled by the strange carvings which look remarkably like vultures – hence the name of the stone – engineers made the crazy discovery, the markings were not birds at all, but in fact astronomical symbols.
Computer programmes to pinpoint where constellations would have been at that time were used and they found the comet which struck in 10,950BC, occurred at the same time temperatures started to drop.
Twitter/ancient originsThis mini-ice age period – known as the Younger Dryas – was integral to human development, as it marked the end of the woolly mammoths and kick-started the growth of agriculture and civilisations.
Before the comet hit, huge areas of wheat and barley allowed hunters in the Middle East to set up camp, but after the dramatic change in climate, communities were forced to work together to figure out ways to survive.
This devastating event had a huge impact on life for the people of Gobleki Tepe and researchers believe the carved pillars depicted messages of monumental significance.
Twitter/ancient originsLeading scientist Dr Martin Sweatman said:
I think this research, along with the recent finding of a widespread platinum anomaly across the North American continent virtually seal the case in favour of (a Younger Dryas comet impact).
Our work serves to reinforce that physical evidence. What is happening here is the process of paradigm change.
It appears Göbekli Tepe was, among other things, an observatory for monitoring the night sky.
One of its pillars seems to have served as a memorial to this devastating event – probably the worst day in history since the end of the ice age.
What’s more is researchers believe the symbols were a way of recording an apocalyptic event, with an image of a headless man suggesting it was a time of disaster and huge loss of life.
The site itself is thought to be the world’s oldest temple site, dating from 9,000BC, which means it was built roughly 6,000 years before Stonehenge.
Pretty crazy to think these primitive etchings could actually tell the story of how the Earth changed forever and the impact it had on human life.
Mind-blowing.
