Before Göbekli Tepe | Boncuklu Tarla | Exclusive Site Exploration & Museum Visit | Megalithomania

MegalithomaniaUK
10 Mar 202410:05
EducationalLearning
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TLDRJoin the Megalith Maniacs at the ancient site of Bonala, dating back up to 13,000 years. Discovered recently, this site is famous for its over 100,000 beads, 40 burials, and possible ritual buildings. Explore the significance of the site's megaliths and its potential astronomical features, and delve into the artifacts at Mardin's City Museum, which reveal insights into the transition from hunter-gatherers to settled life and the origins of civilization in this region.

Takeaways
  • 🏺 The ancient site of Bonala is estimated to be around 13,000 years old, with some evidence suggesting it could be as old as 15,000 years.
  • 📍 Located in the M District, Bonala is approximately 45 minutes from Midat and is known for its significant archaeological findings.
  • 💎 The site's name, Bonala, translates to 'beaded field' or 'field of beads', with over 100,000 beads discovered in the area, contributing to its discovery.
  • 🪦 Approximately 40 burials have been found at Bonala, mostly under residential areas.
  • 🏚️ Six or seven communal or ritual buildings have been identified, some with standing stones.
  • 🕳️ A half port hole stone was discovered, which might be the earliest example of a window or port hole stone with potential astronomical significance.
  • 🏛️ The Mardin City Museum houses incredible artifacts from Bonala and other pre-Pottery Neolithic sites, showcasing the region's ancient history.
  • 🎨 The artifacts include jewelry, belts, belt buckles, engraved bones, ornaments, buttons, and earrings, indicating a sophisticated culture with a belief in an afterlife.
  • 🔍 The materials used for crafting include serpentine, limestone, chlorite, sandstone, bone, obsidian, phosphate, turquoise, copper, and pebble stones.
  • 🌿 The shift from hunter-gatherers to settled life is evident at sites like Bonala, raising questions about the origins of agriculture and civilization.
  • 🌍 The cultural influences and connections between Bonala and other sites like Göbekli Tepe suggest a widespread and possibly contemporary civilization during the Neolithic era.
Q & A

  • What is the estimated age of the Bonala archaeological site?

    -The Bonala archaeological site is estimated to be up to 13,000 years old, with official dating suggesting around 12,000 years.

  • What does the name 'Bonchoc Luta' mean and how was the site discovered?

    -The name 'Bonchoc Luta' means 'beaded field' or 'field of beads'. The site was discovered due to the finding of over 100,000 beads in the area.

  • How many burials have been found at the Bonala site?

    -Around 40 burials have been found at the Bonala site, most of them under the houses or residential areas.

  • What structures were discovered at Bonala that suggest communal or ritual use?

    -Six or seven communal or ritual buildings were discovered at Bonala, some of which have standing stones and a half a port hole stone.

  • What materials were used by the people of Bonala to create various artifacts?

    -The people of Bonala used materials such as serpentine, limestone, chlorite, sandstone, bone, obsidian, phosphate, turquoise, copper, and pebble stones to create artifacts.

  • What types of animal motifs were common in the artifacts found at Bonala?

    -Common animal motifs in the artifacts found at Bonala include the bullhead, bucranium, deer, leopard, wild goat pendants, birds, and scorpions.

  • What does the presence of these artifacts and sites like Bonala suggest about the transition from hunter-gatherers to settled life?

    -The presence of these artifacts and sites like Bonala suggests a possible shift from hunter-gatherers to settled life during the Younger Dryas, raising questions about the origins of agriculture and civilization in this part of the world.

  • What is the significance of the port hole stone found at Bonala?

    -The port hole stone found at Bonala is considered very interesting and could be the earliest example of a window or port hole stone, potentially with astronomical significance.

  • Where is the City Museum located that features artifacts from Bonala and similar sites?

    -The City Museum featuring artifacts from Bonala and similar sites is located in Mardin, in Eastern Turkey.

  • What other sites are mentioned as being potentially older than the Test sites along the Tigris River?

    -The script mentions sites like Bonala, Gockley Tey, and others that are potentially older than the Test sites along the Tigris River.

  • What cultural insights do the artifacts from Bonala provide?

    -The artifacts from Bonala provide insights into religion, aesthetics, death, the afterlife, and the cultural practices of the people who lived there during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic times.

Outlines
00:00
🏺 Visit to the Ancient Site of Bonala

The video script describes a visit to the ancient site of Bonala, which is estimated to be around 13,000 years old. The narrator and their team have been granted special permission by archaeologists to explore the site. The site is known as B Choc Luta, or 'beaded field,' due to the discovery of over 100,000 beads in the area. The site was only discovered recently, within the last couple of decades, and has yielded about 40 burials and several communal or ritual buildings, some with standing stones. A half a port hole stone has also been found, which might be the earliest example of a window with astronomical significance. The narrator expresses excitement about the opportunity to explore Bonala and mentions plans to return next year.

05:01
🏺 Artifacts and Insights from Bonala at Mardin City Museum

In this paragraph, the narrator takes the audience through the Mardin City Museum in Eastern Turkey, where they showcase incredible artifacts from the ancient site of Bonala. The museum houses pieces that provide insights into the aesthetic, religious, and cultural aspects of the society that lived during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic era. The artifacts include jewelry, belt buckles, engraved bones, and ornaments, some of which date back to the ninth millennium BC. The materials used by this civilization include serpentine, limestone, chlorite, sandstone, bone, obsidian, phosphate, turquoise, copper, and pebble stones. The narrator discusses the influence of this 'Super Civilization' on later sites like Gobekli Tepe and raises questions about the origins of agriculture and civilization. The video ends with the narrator's appreciation for the museum and the unique vibe of Eastern Turkey compared to other regions.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bonala
Bonala refers to an ancient archaeological site that is believed to be up to 13,000 years old. It is located in the M District, closer to Midat, and was discovered relatively recently within the last couple of decades. The site is significant for its megalithic structures and the discovery of over 100,000 beads, which is how it got its name 'beaded field'. In the video, the narrator visits Bonala and describes its historical and cultural significance.
💡Archaeologist
An archaeologist is a professional who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. In the context of the video, the archaeologist has granted special permission to the narrator and their team to explore and document the ancient site of Bonala, highlighting the collaborative nature of archaeological research and its accessibility to the public.
💡Megaliths
Megaliths are large stones that have been used to construct monuments in the prehistoric period, often in the form of tombs, temples, or other structures. They are significant for understanding the cultural and technological capabilities of ancient civilizations. In the video, the presence of megaliths at Bonala suggests an advanced level of construction and societal organization, as these structures are among the earliest on the planet.
💡Port Hole Stone
The Port Hole Stone is a specific type of stone feature found at the Bonala site, characterized by a hole or opening that passes through the stone. It is considered remarkable and potentially holds astronomical significance, suggesting that the ancient inhabitants of Bonala may have used it for observing celestial events or as part of their ritual practices.
💡Museum
A museum is an institution that conserves, collects, researches, exhibits, and interprets material evidence (human artifacts, natural objects, and cultural heritage) for the public, professionals, and researchers. In the video, the narrator visits the City Museum in Mardin, Eastern Turkey, to explore artifacts from sites like Bonala and others, providing insights into the region's prehistoric culture and history.
💡Pre Pottery Neolithic
The Pre Pottery Neolithic period refers to a time in human history before the invention of pottery, typically dating back to around 10,000 years ago. It is a crucial era in the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to more settled, agricultural communities. The video discusses artifacts from this period, indicating a sophisticated level of culture and the beginnings of civilization in the region.
💡Belt Buckles
Belt buckles are decorative fasteners used to secure a belt around the waist. In the context of the video, belt buckles from the site of Bonala are significant artifacts that provide insights into the craftsmanship, aesthetics, and social structures of the ancient inhabitants. The presence of holes in some buckles and their association with skeletons suggest that they were used in burial practices, indicating their cultural and possibly religious importance.
💡Spider Motifs
Spider motifs refer to the representation or depiction of spiders in art or design, often symbolizing certain cultural or spiritual beliefs. In the video, the mention of spider motifs on bone plates from Bonala suggests a complex symbolic system and possibly a shared cultural heritage with other sites in the region, indicating a sophisticated level of artistic expression and belief systems.
💡Hunter-Gatherers
Hunter-gatherers are societies that rely primarily on hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants for subsistence. The transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled, agricultural society is a significant milestone in human history. The video discusses this transition in the context of sites like Bonala, suggesting that the inhabitants may have developed agriculture and animal husbandry during the Younger Dryas, a period of colder climate.
💡Super Civilization
The term 'Super Civilization' in the context of the video refers to a hypothetical advanced civilization existing in prehistoric times, characterized by sophisticated cultural, technological, and social structures. The narrator uses this term to describe the level of development and complexity observed in the artifacts and sites like Bonala, suggesting that these sites are evidence of a highly developed society during the Pre Pottery Neolithic period.
Highlights

The ancient site of Bonala is estimated to be 13,000 years old, making it a remarkable archaeological location.

Archaeologists have granted special permission for visitors to explore the site of Bonala.

The site's name, Bonchoc Luta, translates to 'beaded field' or 'field of beads', due to the discovery of over 100,000 beads in the area.

Bonala was only discovered in the last couple of decades, marking it as a relatively recent archaeological find.

Approximately 40 burials have been found at Bonala, mostly beneath residential areas.

Six or seven communal or ritual buildings have been identified at the site, some featuring standing stones.

A half port hole stone has been discovered at Bonala, which may be the earliest example of a window or have astronomical significance.

The megaliths at Bonala are some of the earliest on the planet, indicating a sophisticated ancient civilization.

The artifacts from Bonala and similar sites suggest a shift from hunter-gatherers to a settled lifestyle during the Younger Dryas period.

The materials used for crafting artifacts include serpentine, limestone, chlorite, sandstone, bone, obsidian, phosphate, turquoise, copper, and pebble stones.

The site's artifacts show evidence of religion, aesthetics, death, and the afterlife, providing insight into the culture of the ancient inhabitants.

Bone inlays dating back to the ninth millennium BC were found, showcasing the site's ancient origins.

The discovery of two spider motifs on bone plates raises questions about the influence and connections between ancient cultures in the region.

The site of Bonala and its artifacts contribute to the understanding of the origins of agriculture and civilization in the region.

The Mardin City Museum houses incredible artifacts from Bonala and other pre-Pottery Neolithic sites, providing further insight into ancient civilizations.

The artifacts from Bonala and similar sites suggest the existence of a 'super civilization' dating back to pre-Pottery Neolithic times.

Transcripts

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AncientHistoryArchaeologyMegalithsBonalaNeolithicCulturalTransitionEastTurkeyMuseumTourCivilizationOriginsPrehistoricArt