Situated in the foothills of the Taurus mountains in southeastern Anatolia (Türkiye), Göbekli Tepe (9,500-8,200 cal BCE) is one of the most important Neolithic settlements in western Asia. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it has gained international attention due to its monumental megalithic structures. More than 20 circular stone enclosures, complete with T-shaped limestone pillars carved with images of wild animals and anthropomorphic figures, have been discovered at the site since excavations began there in 1995. The recognition that these were built by hunter-gatherer communities has helped to overturn long held assumptions about the origins of agriculture, its causes and its consequences. This course will examine the archaeological evidence gathered over 30 years of investigations at Göbekli Tepe and explore, thematically, how new ideas and data from the site are once more re-writing prehistory.
Göbekli Tepe: Exploring New Ideas and Evidence
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 27 Feb 2026
Week 1: Introducing Göbekli Tepe
Week 2: Structures and architecture
Week 3: Art and symbolism
Week 4: Plants and animals
Week 5: The world of Göbekli Tepe
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Preparatory reading
- Prehistoric Western Asia / Akkermans, P.M.M.G.
- Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. A brief summary of research at a new World Heritage Site (2015–2019) / Lee Clare
- A Neolithic Site in Southeastern Anatolia / Schmidt, K.
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £180.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Dr Jade Whitlam
Jade Whitlam is a Departmental Lecturer in Archaeology at OUDCE and Course Director for the undergraduate Diploma and Advanced Diploma in British Archaeology. A specialist in the prehistory of southwest Asia, her research focuses on the emergence and spread of farming and its long-term socio-economic consequences. She has undertaken fieldwork in Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Türkiye, Siberia and Italy, and previously held postdoctoral fellowships from The Gerald Avery Wainwright fund and the British Academy.
Course aims
- To introduce students to the Neolithic settlement of Göbekli Tepe.
- To familiarise students with the range of archaeological materials recovered from the site and the approaches that have been used to analyse and interpret this evidence.
- To encourage students to engage critically with archaeological discourse surrounding the site.
- To give students the confidence to undertake further independent reading and research.
Teaching methods
The course will be taught through a combination of teacher-led PowerPoint presentations, group discussions and small-group activities.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to:
- Describe the key features of Göbekli Tepe and the range of archaeological materials recovered from the site.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role that Göbekli Tepe has played in discussions regarding the origins of agriculture and Early Neolithic lifeways in southwest Asia.
- Critically evaluate published interpretations of archaeological evidence from the site, recognising the limits of the archaeological record.
Assessment methods
This course is non-accredited, so there are no assessments.
Application
Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
While this is an introductory course, you will find it helpful to have undertaken some preparatory reading. Students are also expected to engage in a private study during the course and will be given a handout at the start with suggested readings, resources and activities relating to each week’s class. This is intended to help students make the most of their private study and consolidate the learning they are doing in class but is not a mandatory.