Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – During recent excavations at Sefertepe in Türkiye, archaeologists uncovered two human face reliefs estimated to be around 10,000 years old. These ancient artifacts highlight regional stylistic differences and artistic diversity during the Neolithic period.
Experts report that the face reliefs were carved using both high and low relief techniques on four limestone blocks. Dr. Emre Güldogan, a faculty member at Istanbul University’s Prehistoric Archaeology Department and head of the excavation team, explained that these findings are part of the “Sanliurfa Province
Credit: Eşber Ayaydın/AA
The “Neolithic Age Research Stone Hills Project,” managed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has revealed significant findings. According to Dr. Güldogan, the team identified that the faces depicted in their discoveries were part of a structure encircled by block stones, which defined a distinct area. He further explained to Anadolu Agency that these figures provide valuable insights into artistic expression during the Neolithic period, noting that both faces were oriented north and contributed to our understanding of how art was integrated into architectural spaces at that time.
“We encountered two human faces with slightly different features from those we saw at Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Sayburç. One was made in low relief and the other in high relief, with clear stylistic differences. The pupils, eye contours, brow ridges, nose, and mouth of the high-relief model are particularly meticulously crafted.
In the low-relief example, the eyes appear closed. The mouth, nose, and other features differ from the full-lipped form known from Karahantepe. The ears are clearly visible in the high-relief depiction. A head is fully depicted,” Dr. Güldogan stated.
Dr. Güldogan in front of the unearthed ancient face reliefs. Credit: Eşber Ayaydın/AA
Güldogan highlighted that the figures at Sefertepe have distinguishing features compared to those at Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, noting that the most significant difference lies in the greater emphasis on eyes, ears, and noses. He explained that these figures are crucial for understanding the artistic diversity and regional stylistic variations of the Neolithic period. Additionally, Güldogan described a platform composed of four blocks bearing reliefs, constructed specifically for this site. He also mentioned the presence of pits carved into the bedrock around the platform and a unique structural arrangement in the area.
During the Tas Tepeler 5th Anniversary Program held in November 2025, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy unveiled a number of noteworthy ancient discoveries from sites including Göbeklitepe, Sefertepe, Karahantepe, and Sayburç.
These archaeological findings offer profound insights into the beliefs, rituals, and symbolic expressions of some of humanity’s earliest settled communities. The evidence further substantiates the view that Tas Tepeler—a collection of Neolithic sites in southeastern Turkey—constitutes one of the world’s most significant prehistoric cultural landscapes.
Tas Tepeler, meaning “Stone Mounds,” encompasses several early ritual and settlement areas. Recent discoveries have expanded our understanding of how these ancient societies constructed monuments, created symbolic artifacts, and organized their social lives well before pottery, metallurgy, or agriculture emerged.
The Sayburç human sculpture. Note the stitched mouth. Credit: Republic of Türkiye – Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Minister Ersoy highlighted that these findings indicate early communities had a much more advanced sense of belief systems and social organization than previously assumed. Notably at Sayburç, archaeologists uncovered a human sculpture with a stitched mouth—interpreted as representing a deceased individual. This artifact offers new perspectives on prehistoric concepts of death beyond traditional burials or skull-related practices; researchers believe the sealed mouth holds symbolic significance related to ritual or belief.
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Across all Tas Tepeler sites, evidence indicates densely populated settlements with both domestic dwellings and communal buildings. Excavations have revealed homes containing burials alongside ovens and food-preparation areas—demonstrating that daily life was closely intertwined with symbolic acts.
These discoveries contribute to Minister Ersoy’s vision for Tas Tepeler to be recognized globally as the “Neolithic capital of the world.”
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer