Mesolithic Religion
Cheryl Lefler
Dr. Buck
Philosophy 230
13 July 2013
Mesolithic Religion
Mesolithic refers to a period of human evolution that fits between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. It is a catch-all term for portions of human development that do not fit nicely into the preceding or ensuing epochs of archaeological history. What sets this portion of human history apart from previous periods is the moving away from hunter-gatherer society to one that was becoming more domestic in nature (Guisepi).
A good example of this domestication can be seen at Urfa. Urfa was not a settlement, but rather a place of worship, designated as such for the belief that it was the bellybutton or naval of the spiritual world─a holy place (Schram). The primary clans around the location of Urfa came together to construct the Stone Temple that was erected there. The construction of this temple heralded a new way of life for the people of the area and of their religious beliefs and practices. The evidence of wild forms of domesticated wheat and goats were located close by. This demonstrates both a need to feed the peoples around the temple site and a moving away from the earlier hunter-gatherer society toward a more permanent, organized one (Curry).
After the erection of the temple at Urfa, it was buried over and designated holy ground. The site remained intact and untouched until the excavations by Klaus Schnidt and his team of archaeologists.
Artifacts found around the site point to a change in cultural and religious beliefs of the people of the Urfa region, and possible of the Mesolithic period in general, demonstrating that sacrifice of both animals and humans had begun to take place as was the engagement in ritual sex rites. History works in the bible suggest that the hunter began to sacrifice animals, and the farmer humans, in the hopes of appeasement of God and for fertility of the land and the animals (Gen. 4.4-8), and is further acknowledging the evolution in human culture and
Dr. Buck
Philosophy 230
13 July 2013
Mesolithic Religion
Mesolithic refers to a period of human evolution that fits between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. It is a catch-all term for portions of human development that do not fit nicely into the preceding or ensuing epochs of archaeological history. What sets this portion of human history apart from previous periods is the moving away from hunter-gatherer society to one that was becoming more domestic in nature (Guisepi).
A good example of this domestication can be seen at Urfa. Urfa was not a settlement, but rather a place of worship, designated as such for the belief that it was the bellybutton or naval of the spiritual world─a holy place (Schram). The primary clans around the location of Urfa came together to construct the Stone Temple that was erected there. The construction of this temple heralded a new way of life for the people of the area and of their religious beliefs and practices. The evidence of wild forms of domesticated wheat and goats were located close by. This demonstrates both a need to feed the peoples around the temple site and a moving away from the earlier hunter-gatherer society toward a more permanent, organized one (Curry).
After the erection of the temple at Urfa, it was buried over and designated holy ground. The site remained intact and untouched until the excavations by Klaus Schnidt and his team of archaeologists.
Artifacts found around the site point to a change in cultural and religious beliefs of the people of the Urfa region, and possible of the Mesolithic period in general, demonstrating that sacrifice of both animals and humans had begun to take place as was the engagement in ritual sex rites. History works in the bible suggest that the hunter began to sacrifice animals, and the farmer humans, in the hopes of appeasement of God and for fertility of the land and the animals (Gen. 4.4-8), and is further acknowledging the evolution in human culture and
Cited: Curry, Andrew. “Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple?” Smithsonianmag.com. Smithsonian Magazine, Nov. 2008. Web. 13 July 2013. Guisepi, Robert A. “The Stone Age.” The Stone Age. History-world.org. 2000. Web. 13 July 2013. New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 13 July 2013. Schram, Sandra. “The World’s First Temple – Archaeology Magazine Archive.” Archaeology Magazine Archive. Archaeology.org. Dec. 2008. Web. 13 July 2013.