The emergence of temples and palaces in the Near East

From the Epipalaeolithic Period onwards, cultural developments in the Near East can be followed concretely through archaeological data. Particularly with the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) Period, the transition to a sedentary lifestyle became more pronounced, bringing not only economic and spatial transformation, but also profound changes in social, religious, and ideological structures. This thesis comprehensively addresses the process of emergence and the functions of monumental structures such as temples and palaces, which are regarded as the most prominent architectural reflections of these social and ideological transformations. The development of monumental architecture is not limited to an increase in building scale; it also sheds light on the changing nature of social organisation, religious rituals, and political structures. Within this framework, selected settlement sites—chiefly Göbekli Tepe—whose excavations have been completed or are still ongoing, have been examined comparatively with respect to architectural plans of temple and palace complexes, cult objects, and spatial arrangements. Within the scope of the thesis, assessments have been made under four main headings: the transition process to settled life, examples of structures dating back to the Neolithic Period, Chalcolithic Period settlements, and Bronze Age structures. As knowledge production regarding these periods—when writing had not yet been invented—relies largely on archaeological data, special importance has been given to the analysis of material culture elements. In the study, by examining the similarities and differences between temple plans and cult objects from centres located in different geographical regions, inferences have been made concerning the historical development and functional transformations of these structures.