Excavations at Sayburç, in south-eastern Turkey in 2021, have exposed ancient ruins including a relief carving that is being called the World's oldest narrative. "Narrative - the representation in art of an event or story" (Merriam Webster online dictionary, accessed 16 January 2023). So, this says to me that a single image could not be classified as a narrative, although it could be a single scene out of a narrative. A narrative implies the passage of some time - this happened, then that.
In 2021, at Sayburç, "a relief was discovered in a communal building that displays a scene depicting humans and animals. This scene has the narrative integrity of both a theme and a story, in contrast to other contemporaneous images, and represents the most detailed depiction of a Neolithic 'story' found to date in the Near East, bringing us closer to the Neolithic people and their world." (Özdoğan 2022) This is analagous of an eleven thousand year old picture book.
"The site of Sayburç comprises a Neolithic mound, located 60 km east of the Euphrates River, on the southern periphery of the eastern Taurus mountains. It was mostly covered by the construction of the modern village of Sayburç in 1949, after which the site takes its name. Excavation began in 2021, which revealed two separate Pre-Pottery Neolithic occupations. The first, which comprises communal buildings, is located in the northern part of the village, on the south-eastern edge of a small Roman settlement. The second, consisting of residential buildings, is located 70m further south. The communal building containing the relief was discovered in the northern occupation area. Here, two modern houses, one of stone, the other of concrete, had been constructed over the remains. To date, only half of the building has been excavated. The modern houses will be demolished in future field seasons to enable the Neolithic structure to be exposed in its entirety." (Özdoğan 2022) It is remarkable how many recent discoveries of the very first stages of civilization seem to come out of this area.
"The communal building measures 11m in diameter, and was carved into the livestone bedrock, with stone-built walls that rest on a bench, which rises from the floor. The bench measures approximately 0.6-0.8m high and 0.6m wide and displays a number of ~0.4m-wide cavities extending along the wall, suggesting that it had originally been partitioned by pillars. The images engraved on the inner face of the bench, in combination with the size and structural features of the building, suggest that this must have been a place for special gatherings." (Özdoğan 2022) If this is the case, that it was meant for special gatherings, then that implies the images were meant for the population, public display, not private. It quite possibly represents scenes from a myth or legend that everyone in the community would know, and they would recognize these.
“Five figures are represented side-by-side on the inner face of the bench in the form of a 0.7-0.9 x 3.7m panel. Aside from a male figure fashioned in high relief, the other figures are carved in flat relief. The direction and stance of the figures imply that two related scenes are present. While the other figures are facing on another, only the male figure - in high relief - faces into the room, staring into the interior. This principal human figure holds it phallus in its right hand. - the rounded protrusions on the upper end of the legs appear to represent the knees, as if bent forward while sitting, and provide perspective. Although the head is damaged, a round face, large ears, bulging eyes and thick lips are evident. In particular, a triangular-shaped necklace or neckband is notable. This male figure is faced on each side by two leopards which are depicted in profile. Their mouths are open, the teeth visible, and their lang tails are curled up towards the body. The leopard to the west is depicted with a phallus, whereas the other is not." (Özdoğan 2022)
The five figures visible in the relief carving comprise two leopards, one bull, and two humanoid male figures. These quite possibly actually represent a single humanoid involved in two different activities or events, like two scenes in the story or two acts in a play. And, I say humanoid because his status is unknown. He may represent a mere mortal, a cultural hero or a sacred being, a demi-god or god. This may be an early manifestation of a being like Gilgamesh.
"To the west is a similar scene, in which a second human figure and a bull are depicted side on. The human appears to be male, with a phallus-shaped extension on the abdomen, and is shown in a slightly squatted position, with its back turned to the first three figures. Its raised, open left hand has six fingers, while the right holds a snake, or a rattle, with its head facing the ground. Although the body of the bull is portrayed from the side, its head is depicted as if from above with both horns visible. This distorted perspective is comparable to that seen at other prehistoric sites and must have been deliberately chosen to emphasize the horns, which are exaggerated like the leopards' teeth in the previous scene." (Özdoğan 2022)
"The Sayburç reliefs correspond to the style and themes of the Neolithic. Phalluses are the only elements identifying the sex of the figures, and emphasis is placed on predatory and aggressive aspects of the animal world, as represented by the depiction of dangerous features, such as teeth and horns, which has been observed at other sites." (Özdoğan 2022)
This emphasis on the threatening nature of the animals suggest the "Master of animals" theme often suggested by Neolithic art. The authors suggest a relationship to Gobekli Tepe, and the bull's horns may also indicate some relationship to Çatalhöyük. And, as I stated above the figure's interaction with a bull may indicate a very early manifestation of an epic like the story of Gilgamesh.
NOTE: Some images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on this reports you should read the original report at the site listed below.
REFERENCES:
Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, accessed 7 January 2023.
Özdoğan, Eylem, 2022, The Sayburç reliefs: a narrative scene from the Neolithic, Antiquity, Vol. 96, Issue 390, December 2022, pp. 1599-1605, published online by Cambridge University Press, 8 December 2022. Accessed 7 January 2023.
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