Turkeys Tiny Figurines Reveal Prehistoric Stories

Tiny Carved Animals Unearthed in Turkey Reveal Prehistoric Storytelling

ANKARA, Turkey — Archaeologists in Turkey have unveiled a remarkable set of tiny animal figurines, dating back roughly 11,500 years, that could represent the earliest known example of humans arranging objects to tell a story.

The trio of carvings was discovered at the Karahantepe archaeological site, one of the world’s oldest Neolithic settlements. Each figure, standing just 3.5 cm tall, was carefully placed in a small container, covered with a stone lid, and nested inside a larger vessel. Intriguingly, the heads of the figurines were positioned inside limestone rings, suggesting a deliberate composition rather than random placement.

“Telling a story brings to mind storytellers, and carving them into stone points to the existence of artists,” said Necmi Karul, head of the Karahantepe excavations. “But more than that, it shows that communities shared these stories as a common memory.”

The figurines, along with other discoveries from Karahantepe, are now on public display at Turkey’s Presidential Complex in Ankara. The site itself dates back to around 9,500 BC and forms part of a larger Neolithic research project, Tas Tepeler, or “Stone Hills,” which includes multiple ancient settlements across the Sanliurfa province.

According to Karul, the careful arrangement of the carvings marks a significant shift in prehistoric narrative expression. Until now, most Neolithic depictions were two-dimensional and independent, etched onto walls or stones. “With the Neolithic period and the move to living in permanent settlements, we see a fundamental change in how people communicated stories,” he explained.

Sedentism—the practice of living in one place for extended periods—replaced millions of years of nomadic hunter-gatherer life and helped forge new social structures. Karul believes storytelling played a crucial role in strengthening these emerging communities. “These narratives may have been the social bonds that held this new order together,” he said, calling the figurines “one of the most important prehistoric discoveries.”

Karahantepe, which spans 14 hectares, has only been partially excavated since work began in 2019. Archaeologists have uncovered pillars decorated with reliefs, circular communal buildings, and even a human head carved directly into the bedrock. Nearby Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is thought to be the oldest known settlement of its kind.

Karul hopes to secure further UNESCO recognition for Karahantepe to draw global attention to the site’s significance. “Modern people often think they are the pinnacle of achievement,” he said. “Karahantepe reminds us that people 11,000 to 12,000 years ago were already incredibly successful in art and storytelling.”