14. The Role in the Neolithic Revolution
Göbekli Tepe challenges the long-held view that agriculture led to civilization. Some archaeologists now argue that the desire to build and maintain monumental religious sites like this may have actually spurred the rise of farming. Communities needed stable food supplies to support large gatherings and labor forces, possibly encouraging the shift from hunting-gathering to cultivation. This reversal of traditional assumptions positions Göbekli Tepe as a catalyst in the Neolithic Revolution—a key turning point in human history.
