Archaeologists have excavated the remains of the oldest known temple on earth. The 11,000 year old site in southern Turkey near the Syrian border pre-dates Stonehenge by 6,000 years.
It's being proposed that the site may play a role in the transition from hunter/gatherer societies to farming societies. While there is no evidence of farming at the site, there are the remains of wild plants that are the ancestors of some of the first farmed crops. The stones of the temple are huge and carved with animal motifs, so people may have had to find a way to stay near the temple for longer than a hunter/gatherer group was accustomed to staying in any one place.
This staying in one place gave rise to the need for civil society, which gave rise to rulers, which gave rise to criticism of rulers, which is me.
Thanks 11,000 year old Middle Eastern dudes!
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