To Those Who Struggle for Freedom,
In the Garden of Eden,
Past and Present
And to the memory of
Filip Coppens
(1971–2012)
and
Colin Wilson
(1931–2013)
Friends and Genuine Seekers of the Truth
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First, I would like to thank those who have been involved in providing visionary thoughts and information that helped inspire the creation of this current work. They include Richard Ward, David Southwell, Debbie Cartwright, Bernard G., Graham Phillips, and Catja de Lorenzo. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rodney and Joan Hale, for their indelible help in making sure my life continues; Storm Constantine and Jim Hibbert, for putting up with me in their home for over a month; Graham Hancock and Santha Faiia, for the wonderful introduction, and their precious time and help; and Greg and Lora Little, for their constant friendship and support.
In addition to this, I would like to thank Jonathan Bright, for his exchanges on the Greek language; Alberto Forgione, for the cover illustration; Idris Gurkin, for his friendship and kind help as a translator and guide in Turkey; Gülüzar and Hıdır Çelik, for their hospitality in Paradise; Catherine Hale, for her line editing and suggestions; Barbara Hand Clow, for the use of her brilliant term catastrophobia; J. L. Katzman of Aggsbach’s Paleolithic Blog, for permission to use pictures; Suna Köse, for her invaluable help in finding me local contacts in eastern Turkey; Janet Morris, for her archive research into the more obscure topics under discussion here; Raffi Kojian, of the AniOnline forum, Gagik Avagyan, and Sunny Keshishian Ross, for their Armenian language translations and advice; Russell M. Hossain, for his wonderful 3-D sculpts; Professor Klaus Schmidt, for agreeing to answer my questions and permitting me to explore Göbekli Tepe; Dr. Harald Hauptmann, for his help regarding the excavations at Nevalı Çori; and Michael Tazzar, for his research discussions.
I would also like to extend a big thank-you to all the others who have helped me during the writing of this book, including Eileen Buchanan, Yvan Cartwright, Adam Crowl, Hakan Dalkus, Amadeus Diamond, Kelly Delaney Stacy, Adriano Forgione, Dawn Forgione, Stephen Gawtry, Richard D. Kingston, Peter Knight, Ian Lawton, Yuri Leitch, Chris Nemmo, Hugh Newman, Chris Ogilvie Herald, Khanna Omarkhali, Graham Phillips, Nigel Skinner-Simpson, Alby Stone, Geoff Stray, Alan Todd, Paul Weston and Rachel Blake, Leon and Lisa Flower, Pino Morelli and Roberta Formoso, Matt Kyd and Renny Djunaedi, Brent and Joan Raynes, Mark and Michelle Rosney, Buster and Abigail Todd, Bob Trubshaw and Judi Holliday, Caroline Wise and Michael Staley, Philippe and Domenique Ullens, John Wilding and Esther Smith, and staff at the Henge Shop, Avebury. Finally, I want to say a massive thank you to Olatundji Akpo-Sani, Kelly Bowen, Kevin Dougherty, Jon Graham, John Hays, Erica B. Robinson, Peri Swan, Jessie Wimett, Chanc VanWinkle Orzell and all the team at Inner Traditions/Bear & Company for being so patient with me over the past couple of years. It is very much appreciated.
CONTENTS
Cover Image
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Note on Dating System Used
Illustration Credits
Introduction By Graham Hancock NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION
GÖBEKLI TEPE IN CONTEXT
EGYPT’S FIRST TIME
LION PILLAR BUILDING
FORGOTTEN CIVILIZATION
CATASTROPHOBIA
ABODE OF THE GODS
CULT OF THE VULTURE
FROM THE ASHES OF ANGELS
Prologue: In Quest of Angels
Part 1: Construction Chapter 1: A Lifetime’s Work SITE V52/1
SUBLIME SOPHISTICATION
SANGUINE DISCOVERIES
NEOLITHIZATION
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MINEFIELD
THE CULT BUILDING
THE GREAT MONOLITH
A PERSONAL DIVINITY
EXPLORING GÖBEKLI TEPE
Chapter 2: Monumental Architecture SNAKE PILLAR BUILDING
CULT OF THE SNAKE
ENCLOSURE B EXPOSED
NEW TEMPLES DISCOVERED
DELIBERATE BURIAL
THE YOUNGER DRYAS MINI ICE AGE
A LIFE OF BEER
CUP MARKS FOR CARRION BIRDS
ENGINEERING CONUNDRUM
NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION
THE ORIGINS OF AGRICULTURE
Chapter 3: Frozen in Stone ENCLOSURE C
A DOUBLE RING OF STONES
THE DROMOS
ENCLOSURE D
MYSTERY OF THE FLIGHTLESS BIRDS
LATER PHASES OF BUILDING ACTIVITY
TRIANGLE D’OR
Chapter 4: Strange Glyphs and Ideograms THE H GLYPH
SHAMANIC POT STANDS
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL ART
EMBLEMS OF OFFICE
THE EYE AND THE CRESCENT
THE WESTERN CENTRAL PILLAR
Part 2: Cosmos Chapter 5: Gateway to Heaven A CLOCKWISE MOTION
THE SUN’S PATH
COSMIC HARMONY
CENTER OF THE WORLD
PLACE OF THE PLACENTA
TEMPLE OF THE TWINS
TWIN PORTALS TO THE SKY WORLD
Chapter 6: Window on Another World THE LASCAUX SHAFT SCENE
THE SUMMER TRIANGLE
THE VENUS AND THE SORCERER
THE GREAT RIFT
CAVE SCENES TO CULT SHRINES
Chapter 7: Turned toward the Stars ANGLES OF ORIENTATION
AN ORION CORRELATION?
ALIGNED TO SIRIUS?
NORTH OR SOUTH?
TARGET REVEALED
ENCLOSURE DATES
CELESTIAL MARKERS
SOUL HOLES
CAUCASIAN DOLMENS
PASSAGE OF THE SOUL
Chapter 8: The Path of Souls CLEAVING OPEN THE PORTALS
THE DENEB PORTAL
STORM DEMON WITH OPEN MOUTH
VENERATION OF THE POLE STAR
SHIFTING POLE STARS
Chapter 9: Cult of the Vulture PSYCHOPOMP
GÖBEKLI’S VULTURE STONE
HEAD LIKE A BALL
VULTURE WINGS
STAR MAP IN STONE
CYGNUS AS A VULTURE
Chapter 10: Cosmic Birth Stone THE KILISIK STATUE
COSMIC BIRTH
BIRTH CHAMBER
COSMOLOGICAL BELIEFS
Part 3: Catastrophobia Chapter 11: The Hooded Ones THE MINI T-SHAPED STATUE
A SUDDEN CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE
MESSIANIC MESSAGE
Chapter 12: Fear of the Fox’s Tail BELT BUCKLE CLUE
THREE-TAILED COMET
MARK OF THE COMET
COMETARY CANINES
I PREDICT A COMET
Chapter 13: Cosmic Trickster TURNING THE HEAVENS
MAN VERSUS DEVIL
RESTORING COSMIC ORDER
Chapter 14: From a Fox to a Wolf THE CESSATION OF COSMIC TIME
Chapter 15: Twilight of the Gods THE EDDAS
THE DEVOURING OF THE SUN AND MOON
THE MIDGARD SERPENT
THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT
BATTLE OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
THE EARTH SINKS
THE FIMBUL-WINTER
DONNELLY’S DATES
NUCLEAR WINTER
Chapter 16: The Wolf Progeny SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
BLACK DOG
THE ETERNAL STRUGGLE
TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY
THE BUNDAHISHN
Chapter 17: A Dark Day in Syria THE BIG CHILL
MICROSPHERULES AND SLOS
MELT PRODUCTS
MULTIPLE IMPACTORS
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
KILL, CHILL, ILL, AND NOW GRILL!
Chapter 18: A
ftermath A BEDOUIN CATASTROPHE MYTH
SEVEN-TAILED COMET
PROFESSOR SCHMIDT’S OPINIONS
A REMEDY FOR CATASTROPHOBIA
Part 4: Contact Chapter 19: The Reindeer Hunters TANGED POINT CULTURES
THE CASE OF MARY SETTEGAST
THE SWIDERIAN CULTURE
THE SWIDERIAN LANDSCAPE
Chapter 20: Swiderian Dawn THE WITÓW PEOPLE
SWIDERIANS IN CRIMEA
TANGED POINTS IN THE NEAR EAST
POST-SWIDERIAN CULTURES
FINNO-UGRIC PEOPLES
HUMAN HYBRIDS
Chapter 21: The Solutrean Connection RIMUTÈ RIMANTIENÈ’S COMMENTS
ANCIENT MARINERS
THE BRÜNN CONTROVERSY
SOLUTREAN STONE FRIEZES
PURSUED BY A BULL
SOLUTREAN BIRD CULT?
THE SKY PEOPLE
SWANS AND WOLVES
HUNTING WITH WOLVES
Chapter 22: Obsidian Obsession THE FRANCHTHI CAVE
LETHAL WEAPON
CROW-FLINT FIRE
OBSIDIAN RELIGION
THE SEARCH FOR NEW SOURCES
Chapter 23: The Bingöl Masters THE EMERGENCE OF HALLAN ÇEMI
EUROPEAN TAKEOVER
THE GOBUSTAN WARRIORS
DISTANT COUSINS
LAND OF THE PERI
Chapter 25: Saviors of the World WOLF-STICK FESTIVAL
THE SHAMAN’S POLE
OCCULT BATTLE
STRANGE CUSTOMS OF THE SÁMI
FINNO-UGRIC ORIGINS
FOX, NOT WOLF?
Chapter 26: Strange-looking People COMMUNITY NETWORKING
THE WALLS OF JERICHO
SCHMIDT AND THE SWIDERIANS
THE END OF GÖBEKLI TEPE
Part 5: Convergence Chapter 27: In the Garden of Eden TEMPLE IN EDEN
THE EXISTENCE OF PARADISE
THE GREAT REFORM
THE HIDDEKEL
GIHON AND THE LAND OF CUSH
IN SEARCH OF THE PISON
THE LAND OF GOLD
SEAT ON THE RIVER OF EDEN
RELAND’S CHOICE
Chapter 28: The Fountain of Paradise THE PLAIN OF MUSH
MONASTIC FOUNDATIONS
THE TREE OF LIFE
FINDING OTHER EDENS
THE REVEREND MARMADUKE CARVER
THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON
A MERE UTOPIA
CHERUBIM WITH THE FLAMING SWORDS
CARVER’S MAP OF PARADISE
MOUNT ABUS
THE SOURCE OF MANY RIVERS
Chapter 29: The World’s Summit THE PISON RIVER—NEW EVIDENCE
FOUNTAIN OF LIFE
AL-KHIDR, THE GREEN ONE
THE CULT OF ENKI
DILMUN—GARDEN OF THE GODS
THE DIMLI KURDS
THE FOUNTAIN OF HIZIR
Chapter 30: Rise of the Anunnaki MOUNTAIN OF THE GODS
THE NIPPUR FOUNDATION CYLINDER
MOUNT AL-JUDI
THE SWITCH TO MOUNT MASSIS
THE NIPPUR FOUNDATION CYLINDER
CULT OF THE SNAKE
NO CEDAR FORESTS
Chapter 31: The Making of Humankind THE CREATION OF MAN
EVE, THE GIVER OF LIFE
Chapter 32: The Coming of the Watchers FIRSTS FOR HUMANITY
THE SONS OF GOD
VISAGE LIKE A VIPER
HUMAN ANGELS
Chapter 33: Mountain of the Watchers ARMON NOT HERMON?
MOUNT ARARAT AGAIN
MOUNTAIN-LAND OF THE MINYAS
HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN
THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD
BENEATH THE POLE STAR
ENOCH IN PARADISE
TIGRIS TUNNEL
THE MOUNT OF ASSEMBLY
BABYLONIAN MAP OF THE WORLD
GOD’S PROMISED LAND
Chapter 34: Walking with Serpents THE MYSTERY OF TELL ARPACHIYAH
SNAKELIKE HEADS
CULT OF THE SNAKE
ELITE RITUAL CENTER
CITY OF ENOCH
THE PERI AND CIN
EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE?
Part 6: Completion Chapter 35: A Quiet Corner of Eden EDEN-LIKE WOODLAND
THE DISCIPLE THADDEUS
EDEN AND THE TREE OF LIFE
THE OIL OF MERCY
HOLY ANOINTING OIL
THE ANGEL’S GIFT
THE TRUE AND LIVING CROSS
Chapter 36: The Red Church STRANGE DECREE
ONLINE APPEAL
HOLY TREE AND SACRED SPRING
DERA SOR IS YEGHRDUT!
SIM MOUNTAIN
Chapter 37: The Secrets of Adam THE REVELATIONS OF METHODIUS
WHERE IS CORDAN MONTE?
THE SEED OF SETH
THE NAG HAMMADI LIBRARY
THE PILLARS OF SETH
THE LAND OF SIRIAD
THE ROCK OF TRUTH
THE GOSPEL OF THE EGYPTIANS
THE SEARCH FOR CHARAXIO
MOUNT SIR
MONS VICTORIALIS
Chapter 38: As Angels Ourselves LIKE THE ANGELS
THE HOLY MYRON
LINKS TO YEGHRDUT
THE CHILDREN OF SETH
A TRIP TO TURKEY
Chapter 39: The Return to Eden THE TAXI RIDE
PKK SITUATION
THE DERA SOR COMMUNITY
A VISIT TO THE SPRING
THE HOLY TREE
EAGLE ON THE WORLD TREE
THE WOOD THAT CUTS
THE RUINS EXPLORED
FINDING THE CHURCHES
SPECTACULAR VIEWS
IS THIS EDEN?
THE RED EARTH OF ADAM
A RESPITE
AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Chapter 40: A Trip to Paradise MOUNTAIN LION
PEOPLE OF TRUTH
COSMIC LION
ARRIVAL AT MUSKA
FOUNTAIN OF HIZIR
FISH FARM
POETRY READING
Chapter 41: Göbekli Tepe Revisited UNFINISHED MONOLITH
JUTTING HEADLAND
NEW LION PILLAR
MIGHTY LION
Chapter 42: A Loss of Innocence A SENSE OF GUILT
DEATH OF AN IDYLLIC WORLD
TRAUMA AND INJURIES
BACK TO EDEN
A RETURN TO THE SOURCE
Appendix
Footnotes
Endnotes
Bibliography
About the Author
About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company
Copyright & Permissions
Index
NOTE ON DATING SYSTEM USED
The long-held dating system of BC (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini, “in the year of the Lord”) is used in preference to more modern forms, such as BCE (before the common era) and CE (of the common era). Occasionally BP (before the present) and KYA (thousand years ago) are used when expressing events of the past. All dates provided by the process of radiocarbon dating are recalibrated unless otherwise stated.
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS
Figure credits
Harald Hauptmann/Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2
Catherine Hale/Rodney Hale/Andrew Collins, 1.1
Rodney Hale/Andrew Collins, 1.5, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1 and 8.1, 8.2, 9.4, 9.5, 10.4, 10.5, 13.1, 19.1, 21.3, 22.1, 23.1, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 28.1, 28.2, 33.3, 36.1, 39.2
Michelle Rosney, 2.2
Storm Constantine, 4.2, 9.3
Yuri Leitch, 6.1
Robert Braidwood/Halet Çambel/Univ. of Istanbul/Univ. of Chicago, 7.2
Greg Little, 8.3
Billie Walker John, 9.1, 32.1, 37.3
Gaziantep Archaeological Museum, 10.2
J. L Katzman/www.aggsbach.de, 52B
Deutsche Archäologisches Institut, 52A & 52C
Russell M. Hossain, 26.1, 32.1
Google Earth/DigitalGlobe 2013, 39.1
All other illustrations are from the author’s collection and are thus copyrig
ht the author of this work.
Color Plate Credits
Caroline Wise/Rodney Hale, plate 25
J. L Katzman/www.aggsbach.de, plate 25
Rodney Hale, plate 26
All other plates are copyright the author.
INTRODUCTION
By Graham Hancock
The new millennium promised much—the rising of Atlantis, the Second Coming of Christ, and the discovery of the Hall of Records in Egypt. Yet those of a New Age persuasion who had waited patiently for this all-important date were to be sadly disappointed. Even so, an archaeological discovery brought to the world’s attention for the first time in 20001 is now poised to make up for any sense of anticlimax that might have accompanied the millennial nonevent.
I speak of Göbekli Tepe, a megalithic complex of incredible beauty and importance located close to the ancient city of Şanlıurfa in southeast Turkey. Here, quietly, since 1995, a series of stone enclosures of immense sophistication, each containing T-shaped pillars up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and weighing as much as 16.5 US tons (15 metric tonnes), is being uncovered on a mountain platform close to the western termination of the Anti-Taurus range.
Carved into the faces of the dozens of stone pillars and freestanding monoliths uncovered so far is a virtual menagerie of strange creatures that populated the world when these mysterious monuments were constructed between twelve thousand and ten thousand years ago. Foxes, wolves, lions, snakes, aurochs, hyena, ibex, and boars are seen alongside insects, arachnids, and various species of bird, including crane, vulture, flamingo, and a flightless bird with the likeness of a dodo.