Eons ago, in a region referred to as the ‘cradle of civilisation’, when our ancestors were just beginning to think that crop production was a better idea than hunting and gathering, some very industrious and talented folk erected and decorated massive stone pillars at a site in south-eastern modern-day Türkiye (Turkey).
This site, known as Göbleki Tepe, is one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time and dates back many thousands of years ago. The massive stone pillars, the earliest known megaliths in the world, were crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or pottery. The site is near the city of Sanliurfa and east of the Euphrates River.
Join U3A Helderberg on a fascinating journey to eastern and south-eastern Türkiye with Ona Viljoen, a former journalist and world traveller, who recently visited this region.
As our ‘travel guide’ she will take the audience on a pictorial info-adventure to this site as well as other extremely interesting locations such as Mount Nemrut, the temple tomb of King Antiochus I built in the 1st century BCE as a monument to himself. It features massive 8–9-metre high statues depicting the king surrounded by the gods and is truly impressive.
The presentation will take place at 10am, on Wednesday September 11 at the Dutch Reformed Church, in Somerset West.
Members enter for free; visitors pay R20 at the door. For further enquiries contact Denise Fourie on 072 211 1173.
