Over 20 Stone Age turtle figurines used in ancient rituals found within Turkish cave – report

Approximately 25 limestone turtle figurines, dating back to the Epipaleolithic period (14,500-11,200 BCE), were discovered in a cave at Gedikkaya Hill in northwestern Turkey. Professor Deniz Sari of Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, who first identified the site in 2017, stated, "The artifacts show us that this was an important cult and ritual area." The figurines, some covered in clay and roughly shaped, were found inserted upright into the soil within a circular architectural arrangement, suggesting their use in ancient rituals. Researchers are also investigating if the hill's resemblance to a turtle influenced these practices, though Sari noted it's too early to confirm a mountain cult. The artifacts are now at the Bilecik Museum and Bilecik Seyh Edebali University for further study.