Karahan Tepe Research & Archive Project
The KarahanTepe.net Research & Archive Project is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to documenting, preserving, and sharing the story of one of the oldest ritual sites on Earth.
As part of our broader mission to safeguard endangered knowledge and sacred traditions, this project focuses on Karahan Tepe - a Pre-Pottery Neolithic site over 11,000 years old, located in the Taş Tepeler region of southeastern Turkey.
Our team has been filming, photographing, and archiving discoveries since 2018, long before the site gained global attention. Volunteers are the primary contributors to this archive, referencing both academic work and independent researcher interpretations. We work directly with Professor Ramazan Aygat, a scholar of Cinema and History at Harran University, to ensure local academic collaboration and cultural integrity.
We collect verified field reports, excavation updates, and original visual documentation to build the most comprehensive, accessible archive of Karahan Tepe available to the public.
Through educational media, digital storytelling, and community-based engagement, we aim to bring this ancient mystery to life!
Meet the Team
Thanks to our team for making the KarahanTepe.net archive possible
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Karahan Tepe Research & Archive Project Manager
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Dakota Wint is a independent researcher documenting Karahan Tepe since 2018
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Cultural Advisor, Karahan Tepe Research & Archive Projec
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Born and raised in Şanlıurfa, Professor Ramazan Aygat is a scholar of cinema, culture, and tourism with a deep personal connection to the ancient heritage of southeastern Turkey. His career spans work in Armenia and Georgia on European Union cultural initiatives, as well as years of teaching Cinema, Culture, and Documentary Film at Harran University.
Since 2018, he has been at the forefront of cultural research and tourism development in Şanlıurfa, collaborating with archaeologists and historians at some of the region’s most important excavation sites — including Karahan Tepe, Göbekli Tepe, Sayburç, Sefertepe, Soğmatar, and Harran. He has also serves in the Şanlıurfa governor’s tourism unit, helping shape regional tourism strategy.
Professor Aygat holds degrees in Cinema & Television, Human Geography, and Tourism History. He currently resides in Şanlıurfa, where he continues to support our foundation’s research, educational outreach, and international collaborations on the ground.
Visit The Archive
Uncover the secrets of Karahan Tepe - curated by volunteers, scholars, and seekers.
Gobekli Tepe Film Festival
The Community Garden is a proud supporter of the Göbekli Tepe Film Festival - a regional celebration of filmmaking and culture held annually in Şanlıurfa.
Professor Ramazan Aygat
“Dakota Wint of The Community Garden Foundation with the Şanlıurfa Mayor, Mr. Mehmet Kasım Gülpına at Göbeklitepe International Film Festival 2024”
“The Community Garden Team - Peter Tran & Dakota Wint alongside Educator ‘History with Kayleigh’ at Göbeklitepe International Film Festival 2024”
