Washington, Nov 15: Archaeologists have discovered a temple in Turkey that dates back to 11,500 years, which they say might be the birthplace of civilization.
According to a report in the Smithsonian magazine, the discovery was made by Klaus Schmidt of the German Archaeological Institute, at Gobekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey.
Schmidt and his team found massive carved stones about 11,500 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery, and just before they learned to farm grains and domesticate animals.
The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years, and are twice as old as the pyramids.