Recently dug turtle figurines expose ancient ritual heritage

Recently dug turtle figurines expose ancient ritual heritage

BİLECİK

The team has uncovered around 25 turtle figures made of limestone. (AA photo)

Archaeologists at the Gedikkaya Hill and İn Cave excavation site in the northwestern province of Bilecik’s İnhisar district have discovered 25 turtle figurines dating from 14,500 to 11,200 B.C., pulling back the curtain on the area’s ancient ritual significance.

The figurines, discovered during excavations conducted by Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, were identified as belonging to the Epipaleolithic Period, which spans roughly 20,000 to 10,000 B.C.