Comet struck Turkey, ending Stone Age

Ancient Comet Carvings May Be World's Oldest Calendar

Carvings at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, recently deciphered, suggest the site might host the world's oldest solar calendar, predating the Great Pyramid by ~7,000 years. The 12,000-year-old site is adorned with intricate symbols, which researchers interpret as a recording of an astronomical event: a comet strike.

It appears the inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe were keen observers of the sky, which is to be expected given their world had been devastated by a comet strike. – Martin Sweatman, study lead author

V-Shaped Symbols: An Ancient Calendar

Strange V-shaped symbols are believed to represent a single day. Totalling 365 of these, researchers found a solar calendar of 12 lunar months plus 11 extra days. A separate symbol, a V worn by a bird-like beast, represents the summer solstice. This indicates a lunisolar calendar, predating others by millennia.

Comet Strike: A Catalyst for Civilization

The calendar possibly memorialises a comet fragment swarm hitting Earth ~13,000 years ago. A 27-day meteor stream is depicted, which could've triggered a mini ice age, wiping out species. This catalytic event may have spurred agriculture and a new religion, its impact recorded in the monument's longevity.

Earth's Ancient Orbit Recorded

The findings confirm ancient people recorded dates by studying Earth's precession. This complex phenomenon, documented by the Greeks ~10,000 years later, indicates ancient peoples' advanced understanding of time and astronomy, possibly a precursor to writing.

The research was published Tuesday in Time and Mind.