An ancient calendar found in Turkey may have documented a 13000 year old disaster

• A researcher at the University of Edinburgh has discovered what he believes to be the earliest lunisolar calendar

Highlights:

• This ancient calendar was found at Göbekli Tepe, an ancient site in southern Turkey that was once a complex of temple-like enclosures.
• According to Sweatman, V-shaped markings on the calendar document a significant astronomical event, a comet impact roughly 13,000 years ago, that had a profound effect on Earth, effectively making the ancient pillar a type of memorial.
• Dr Sweatman explained that the detailed carvings at Göbekli Tepe tell the story and date of the comet fragments, which struck Earth around 10,850 BC.
• The comet strike is thought to have triggered a 1,200-year ice age and led to the extinction of many large animals.
• In 2017, Dr Sweatman had previously linked the impact of the comet to the site in Turkey
• The carvings suggest that ancient people were able to record their observations of the sun, moon and constellations in the form of a solar calendar, created to keep track of time and mark the change of seasons
• While understanding the exact mindset of ancient humans may remain elusive, these findings offer clues about the significance they placed on astronomical events.