If a site is repeatedly abandoned and resettled, it eventually forms somewhat of a hill. In archaeology, this is known as a 'tell', and is a good indicator of potentially interesting sites for excavation. In 1963 a survey of southern Turkey noted a tell with some interesting characteristics, such as limestone slabs. However, the site was forgotten until archaeologist Klaus Schmidt reviewed the survey in 1994 and decided to excavate. Within a few years, something incredible came to light: the lower layer of the site dated to almost 10,000 BC, making it the oldest large-scale construction project known to date. In fact, the site is so old it pre-dates agriculture, meaning it was most likely built by hunter-gatherers. Göbekli Tepe, as the site is known, is still being excavated today, and continues to fascinate researchers. Some have suggested that its construction should be considered the starting point for modern human history, in which case we are two weeks away from the year 12,017.
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