It may be we'll have to dump a bunch of old history books, right? ‘Star Watcher’ Figurine Found in Gedikkaya Cave Could Rewrite Human History Written by Emma Carola Archaeological excavations carried out between 2019 and 2023 in Gedikkaya Cave, located in Bilecik Province, northwest Türkiye, have uncovered groundbreaking evidence that could reshape the narrative of early human settlement. Among the remarkable discoveries is a marble figurine known as the “ Star Watcher ,” which is believed to date back to the Chalcolithic period (5500–3500 BCE) and may even predate the famous site of Göbekli Tepe. Led by Associate Professor Deniz Sarı from Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, and under the supervision of the Bilecik Museum, the excavations revealed multiple layers of human activity. Radiocarbon analysis suggests that the earliest human presence in the cave dates to the Epipaleolithic period, around 16,500 years ago — long before many other known settlements. Photo: IHA ...