Göbekli Tepe Structure Profile
Building F
Building F sits on the western slope of Göbekli Tepe's southwestern hilltop. About two-thirds of it were explored between 2006 and 2008. It is almost oval, about 10 m across, with smaller pillars than the famous monumental buildings. Its pillars preserve arms, hands, V-shaped necklaces, animal imagery, a rare human figure, and strong evidence for erasure and reworking.
At a glance
- Site
- Göbekli Tepe
- Structure
- Building F
- Known For
- source-rich structure showing smaller pillars, uncertain chronology, and repeated image reworking
What you're looking at
Building F is an almost oval Göbekli Tepe building about 10 m across whose smaller pillars and repeatedly reworked reliefs make it a key case for changing imagery over time.
Why it matters
- Building F is located on the western slope of Göbekli Tepe's southwestern hilltop in excavation areas K9-87 and K9-77. About two-thirds of the almost oval building were explored between 2006 and 2008.
- Building F is on the western slope of the southwestern hilltop of Göbekli Tepe.
- About two-thirds of Building F were explored between 2006 and 2008.
- Its inner diameter is about 10 m.
- It is round or almost oval and has two central pillars.
- Its pillars are smaller than those in Buildings A-D and H.
What to notice first
- location on western slope of southwestern hilltop
- about two-thirds explored between 2006 and 2008
- inner diameter about 10 m
- almost oval plan with two central pillars
- smaller pillars than Buildings A-D and H
- uncertain date and stratigraphic position
- lime plaster floor
- benches/platforms along ring wall
How to read it
- Almost Oval Building: Building F is an almost oval Göbekli Tepe building about 10 m across, explored in part on the western slope of the southwestern hilltop.
- Smaller Pillars: Its pillars are smaller than those in the famous monumental buildings, while its round outline still connects it to the larger enclosure tradition.
- Pillar 70: Pillar 70, the northern central pillar, preserves arms, hands, relief bands, and a fox in the bend of the arm.
- Pillar 74: Pillar 74 preserves body features, possible animal imagery, and a rare frontal human figure, but its animal identification and human interpretation require caution.
- Images Remade: Several Building F pillars show evidence that images were erased, reshaped, reused, and remade rather than simply preserved unchanged.
How the space works
- Building F is located on the western slope of Göbekli Tepe's southwestern hilltop in excavation areas K9-87 and K9-77. About two-thirds of the almost oval building were explored between 2006 and 2008.
- The central pillars are Pillars 70 and 71. Both are damaged, and both have evidence for arms and hands. Stone slabs on earth mortar pedestals were placed in front of both central pillars as part of the original configuration.
- almost oval building; inner diameter about 10 m; two central pillars; six ring-wall pillars identified so far; northern part unexcavated; ring wall with two mantles and rubble fill; even lime plaster floor; benches/platforms along the ring wall; stone slabs on earth mortar pedestals in front of both central pillars; large fragmented stone plate integrated into the floor between central pillars
Spatial details
- location on western slope of southwestern hilltop
- about two-thirds explored between 2006 and 2008
- inner diameter about 10 m
- almost oval plan with two central pillars
- smaller pillars than Buildings A-D and H
- uncertain date and stratigraphic position
- lime plaster floor
- benches/platforms along ring wall
Important objects
Building F is an almost oval Göbekli Tepe building about 10 m across, explored in part on the western slope of the southwestern hilltop.
Its pillars are smaller than those in the famous monumental buildings, while its round outline still connects it to the larger enclosure tradition.
Pillar 70, the northern central pillar, preserves arms, hands, relief bands, and a fox in the bend of the arm.
Pillar 74 preserves body features, possible animal imagery, and a rare frontal human figure, but its animal identification and human interpretation require caution.
Several Building F pillars show evidence that images were erased, reshaped, reused, and remade rather than simply preserved unchanged.
The central pillars are Pillars 70 and 71. Both are damaged, and both have evidence for arms and hands. Stone slabs on earth mortar pedestals were placed in front of both central pillars as part of the original configuration.
Research layer limits
- Use reported wording where exact pillar counts, animal identifications, or construction phases remain open.
- Do not turn layout, imagery, or fill evidence into one settled ritual interpretation.
- The full ring-pillar count is not known.
- The access route is not known.
- The date and stratigraphic position are not settled.
- Animal identifications with question marks should remain tentative.
- Building F's reworking evidence should not be generalized too broadly without attribution.
- Speculative lighting or ritual functions for central slabs/pedestals should remain review.