Karahan Tepe was first discovered in 1997 by researchers near the Yağmurlu neighborhood in Şanlıurfa. However, serious excavations only began in 2019 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Necmi Karul.

The site covers an area of nearly 325,000 square meters. Like Göbekli Tepe, it features T-shaped pillars, but the structures here are carved directly into the bedrock, suggesting a different engineering approach or perhaps a different function.

Nearby excavations at Sayburç have revealed stunning narrative scenes carved into stone benches. One scene depicts a human figure holding his phallus, flanked by leopards.

These narrative reliefs provide a glimpse into the mythology and storytelling of the people who built these sites, adding a layer of complexity to the animal symbolism found at Göbekli Tepe.