Ancient Temple in Turkey May Hold the Oldest Calendar in Human History

Researchers believe they may have uncovered evidence of the oldest lunisolar calendar ever recorded — carved into stone around 12,000 years ago in an ancient temple located in southern Turkey.

The discovery was detailed in a recent study published in the scientific journal Time and Mind, led by Martin B. Sweatman from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. The carvings were found at the renowned archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe, considered one of the oldest known temples in the world, dating back to the Neolithic period.

According to Sweatman, the markings on the stone pillars reveal not only the ancient inhabitants’ awareness of celestial cycles but also a surprising level of sophistication in how they tracked time. Using principles from archaeoastronomy — a field that explores how ancient civilizations observed the skies and recorded astronomical phenomena — the researcher analyzed the symbols in depth.

Each “V”-shaped mark carved into the stones is believed to represent a single day. One particular pillar appears to depict a calendar made up of 11 lunar months plus 10 additional days, suggesting a clear understanding of the Moon’s cycles in harmony with the Sun’s path.

Additionally, the same set of carvings may also reference a meteor shower observed by the people of that era — an event they seemingly considered significant enough to be immortalized in stone.

These findings not only deepen our understanding of early human societies but also highlight how humanity’s fascination with the sky is ancient — and possibly far older than previously imagined.

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