Göbekli Tepe in Turkey is an archaeological site that has confounded scientists for years. It dates back 12,000 years, longer than any other permanent human settlement yet found, and contains carved symbolism that we are just beginning to interpret. Various "V" shapes inscribed at the site could be a solar calendar that indicates the people there kept up with 12 lunar cycles and 11 extra days for a 365-day year. The summer solstice is marked with a special V. This would put annual timekeeping thousands of years earlier than we previously thought. The residents of Göbekli Tepe were very aware of the precise changes in the sky, the sun, moon, and stars, over long periods of time at the very dawn of civilization. They even factored in the wobble of the earth's axis, and how that affects the appearance of constellations.
Scientists suspect that the calendar may have been inspired by a swarm of comet fragments that hit the earth 13,000 years ago. The event ushered in a 1,200-year ice age. As earth emerged from that ice age, people began living in permanent communities. These events may also have inspired the development of agriculture, religion, and writing. Read about the solar calendar at Göbekli Tepe at EurekaAlert! -via My Modern Met
(Image credit: Dr. Martin Sweatman)