11,000-Year-Old Human and Leopard Sculpture Unearthed in Türkiye

A rare sculpture dating back approximately 11,000 years has been unearthed at Karahantepe in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, adding another chapter to the region’s remarkable archaeological story.

The newly discovered sculpture depicts a human figure seated on the back of a leopard. Combining human and animal figures within a single composition, the work has a distinctive style unlike anything previously found at the Neolithic site.

Standing 70 centimetres high, the sculpture was uncovered during Karahantepe’s 2026 excavation season, carried out as part of Türkiye’s Legacy for the Future Project.

Announcing the discovery on social media, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, said the find could prompt new discussions about the earliest periods of human history, adding: “I believe this discovery, which opens the door to new questions about humanity’s earliest periods, will resonate widely across the scientific community.”

He also thanked Türkiye’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the excavation team, participating scientists and those working at the site.

Archaeologists discovered the sculpture in the place where it had been left thousands of years earlier. It was positioned on a stone bench running along the wall of a structure measuring three metres in diameter, which featured a floor paved with flat stones.

Discover Şanlıurfa’s Neolithic Heritage

For visitors, Şanlıurfa offers the opportunity to experience this evolving archaeological story within a single region. A visit to Karahantepe can be combined with Göbeklitepe and the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, where important finds from the area help place the ancient sites in context.

Beyond its archaeological heritage, visitors can explore Şanlıurfa’s historic bazaars, the Balıklıgöl complex, the nearby ancient city of Harran and the region’s celebrated southeastern cuisine.

Travellers can fly directly to İstanbul from London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Dublin, before connecting to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport—the closest airport to Karahantepe.

From Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, visitors can continue to Karahantepe by road. As Karahantepe remains an active excavation site, visitors are advised to check the latest opening information before travelling.