11,000-Year-Old Statue of Man Riding Leopard Found in Turkey

Archaeologists have uncovered a stone sculpture depicting a human riding a leopard at the Karahan Tepe monumental complex. The artifact dates back approximately 11,000 years to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic era. The figure was discovered inside a small stone structure, where it had been placed on a bench against the wall. The sculpture stands roughly 70 centimeters tall. According to Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, the object was recovered during the 2026 field season. This find adds to a specific iconographic series within the region. Previously, excavations at Karahan Tepe revealed three statues of humans carrying leopards on their backs, along with separate reliefs and volumetric figures of the animals.