Thursday, 21 May 2020

KARAHAN TEPE IN TURKEY AND TRACES OF VEDIC LINKS

By Neeta Raina
Scholar and archaeologist Andrew Collins, who first visited the remote and unknown site of Karahan Tepe (dated to
9500-6000 BC) in 2004, describes Karahan Tepe as a sister site to Göbekli Tepe. They are both located near the ancient
cities of Sanliurfa and Harran. According to Collins both these sites which were abandoned during the Pre-Pottery
Neolithic B period feature anthropomorphic T-shaped stone pillars with engravings either in high relief or 3D. Of the
two Göbekli Tepe has received widespread attention but for some reason, Karahan Tepe remains relatively obscure.

Not much is known about this site. Most of the information on Karahan Tepe has come to us from the descriptions
and research of Andrew Collins, one of the few archaeologists - the other being Graham Hancock- to have visited the
site. Collin describes the site in great detail. From his writings we know that the tepe is situated on a pastoral farm
named Kecili. In his description of the climb to the mound, Collins states that partially exposed heads of stone pillars
become visible when ascending the hill's northern slope. Further ahead two more pillars become visible at the
northern base of the avenue and according to Collins perhaps formed an entranceway to the top of the hill. But
because at least three other stones nearby have the same alignment, he observes that any interpretation of the layout
becomes complicated. What Collins speculates might be stone avenues are visible on Karahan's eastern and
southeastern slopes. The avenues ascend toward the top of the hill, the twin sets of pillars forming an apparent
zigzagging pattern. Collins is of the view that all three avenues are aligned toward the same spot which is an exposed
rock ledge or knoll immediately north of the hill's extended summit.

The exposed surface of the knoll has groupings of what Collins calls cup holes (15-20 Cms) similar to what are also
observed at Gobekli Tepe. Further ahead one witnesses, similar but larger cupholes (40-50 cms in diameter) some
placed in twins, which Collins says, gives the eerie feeling of two eyes peering at the climber. Various small finds,
including carved fragments of mini T-shaped stones and right-angled corner sections of what appear to be porthole
stones, like those found at Göbekli Tepe, are to be seen on Karahan's eastern slopes.

What is interesting are the two T-shaped pillars found at Karahan Tepe on which carved snakes are seen to slither up
their front narrow edge. According to Andrew Collins, "On one, originally found in 1997 and now removed to Harran
University the snake looks like a human sperm, with a round, bulbous head and wavy body, while on the other
example, exposed during illegal digging operations only the dome-shaped head of the creature is visible." Also a
fragment of a bowl dating to the same age as the T-shaped pillars, bears the relief of a zigzagging snake.

He further adds, "The prominence of serpentine art at Karahan might suggest that the creature held a special place
among the local population responsible for the creation of its carved art. It is even possible that the zigzagging
avenues of stones found at the site are meant to signify the winding path of snakes, which were seen to descend from
the hill's northern knoll down into the valley below, perhaps in the manner of lightning."

Not much has been inferred about the purpose of this site from all the information available about this site. One
might look at it through the Sanskrit lens to see if that sheds a bit more light. For one, one may take the name Karahan
to be a distortion of Sanskrit 'kuhan' (कुहन ) meaning 'snake'. It is said that Kuruhan is not the true name of this hill,
but the meaning of snake may also be associated to its other name, Kecili. Kecili appears to be a distortion of a couple
of Sanskrit words, one is kenchuli (के चुिल) meaning snake-skin, the other kenchukin (के ुिकन) meaning snake. Yet
another Sanskrit word for snake is kachaku (कचाकु) which too is a cognate of Kecili.

The zigzagging snakes could be a representation of the rising Kundalini of the Vedic culture. The rising kundalini is
represented by a coiled serpent seated at the base of the spine which then uncoils through meditation and with
different Vedic techniques rises up to the highest chakra located at the top of the head. The kundalini rises through
each of the seven chakras like a zigzagging snake. Vedic priests and ascetics aspiring to experience kundalini
awakening meditated at far off sites such as caves in the Himalayan mountains. Of course, it is difficult to make any
specific claims, but within the Vedic tradition, this could be one explanation for the existence of snake sculpture at
this site. But for the kundalini explanation the winding path of the snakes would have to be ascending, and not
descending. Collins also equates the zigzag path with that of the path of lightning. Since kundalini is regarded as a path
to enlightenment, to an extent one may link the zigzag path of Karahan Tepe to the serpentine path of the snake
representing kundalini. The Turkish 'tepe' is perhaps a truncated form of the Sanskrit 'stupa' ( ूप ) meaning 'mound,
also associated with sacred Vedic hill sites and Buddhist sites.

The 'shikha' or the tuft of hair that Vedic priests often wear represents the awakened serpent of kundalini. No
discoveries pertaining to the 'shikha' have been found at Karahan but the idea was not unknown in the region which is
supported by the discovery of the Vedic priest head at Navali Cori.

The tuft of hair at the back of the Priest's head

at Nevali Cori site may represent the rising snake of
Kundalini.

There are other legends associated with Karahan Tepe. Its older name Kecili, folklore says is derived either from kec,
the Turkish word for goat, or Kec, pronounced ketch, which is the Kurdish word for bald. In this context it may be said
that close cognates are found in Sanskrit where kesha is 'hair', 'keshat' is goat and 'kulva' is bald and takes care of any
of these explanations. But, in the Vedic context, the Sanskrit kenchulika or snake is the most appropriate fit to the
sites name.
The real purpose of the site is yet not identified, neither are there any records of its true ancient name. However,
there is always some truth in the local legends and folklore and perhaps further research about Kuruhan Tepe may at
some point reveal the purpose and function of this site.

Related Links
Gobekli Tepe's Sister Site- Karahan Tepe by Andrew Collins

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being
self-evident.” -- Arthur Schopenhauer