Reflections of Sculptors and Artists on Gobekli Tepe’s 6-Meter Long T-Shaped Pillars

Introduction

Poring over the ancient enigma of Gobekli Tepe, a prehistoric site located in what is now southern Turkey, one wonders how contemporary sculptors and artists consider these monumental 6-meter-long T-shaped pillars.

Evaluating the Scope of Artists' Awareness

It is estimated that there are currently around 7.7 billion people on earth. The average human lifespan is approximately 79 years, and the timeline from the advent of Gobekli Tepe to the present covers roughly 11,000 years. Extrapolating this, we can estimate that, from the period of Gobekli Tepe to the present, there have been around 100 billion additional souls. Given that 14 percent of all adult human beings are visual artists, that’s approximately 14 percent of 110 billion, resulting in around 16 billion visual artists over that period. However, it is highly unlikely that a significant portion of these artists would be aware of Gobekli Tepe, given its relative obscurity in mainstream historical knowledge.

Discussion in the Artistic Community

The quest for artistic discourse on Gobekli Tepe primarily remains in the realm of academic and archaeological research. There is a dearth of contemporary visual artists' views on these T-shaped pillars. A search through Google and other platforms yields mostly discussions on the site itself rather than artistic insights. This scarcity suggests that the T-shaped pillars may not have been a focal point for sculptors or artists, perhaps due to their architectural rather than sculptural nature.

Artistic Perception of Columns and Carvings

Artistic perception of columns, whether shaped like T-shapes or otherwise, is typically focused on their sculptural elements. For sculptors and artists, the carvings on these T-shaped pillars would be a primary point of interest. The complex and intricate designs, which include animal figures and abstract shapes, constitute the visual feast for artists and provide a rich source of inspiration for creating their own works. However, the actual column shapes themselves, unless specifically sculpted or carved, are not often the subject of direct artistic contemplation.

Historical Context of Hunter-Gatherers

The site of Gobekli Tepe itself is a testament to the pre-agricultural societies that existed thousands of years ago. These societies were primarily hunter-gatherers who rovingly moved from place to place, following the herds and resources they needed for survival. Gobekli Tepe predates permanent settlements, which indicates that hunter-gatherers had not yet established fixed dwellings or the concept of place habitation similar to that of ancient civilizations. Therefore, it is accurate to say that there were no hunter-gatherers at Gobekli Tepe in the sense that they did not build or maintain such structures.

Conclusion

The artistic community, particularly sculptors and visual artists, may not have much to say about Gobekli Tepe's 6-meter-long T-shaped pillars, as these pillars do not neatly fit into recognized sculptural or artistic categories. However, the carvings on these pillars provide ample inspiration for contemporary artists. Future discussions and explorations by artists may shed light on new interpretations and applications of these ancient symbols and designs.