A Human Face Was Carved Into This Stone Pillar in Turkey 11,000 Years Ago
The T-shaped pillar is the first with a face to be found in the Stone Age archaeological sites of Turkey’s Taş Tepeler
At one of the world’s oldest Stone Age archaeological sites—Karahantepe in southeast Turkey—researchers have unearthed a T-shaped stone pillar bearing a carved human face. Dating back some 11,000 years, the four-and-a-half-foot-tall piece is the first of its kind to be found in the area.
Archaeologists have unearthed many rock pillars in Turkey’s Taş Tepeler, or “Stone Hills,” the group of prehistoric sites that includes Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest temple complex in the world. Many of these pillars, like the recently discovered example, served a structural purpose: to support ancient buildings’ roofs.
But historians think these T-shaped pillars were also made to symbolize or evoke humans. Per a translated statement by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, all the previously discovered pillars were engraved with human arms or hands, and also animals or garments of clothing.
“It is fair to say that the only missing element in this pattern was the face,” excavation director Necmi Karul, an archaeologist at Istanbul University, tells the Art Newspaper’s Ayla Jean Yackley. “The human-faced pillar we encountered in a structure containing domestic elements, such as grinding stones, fills this gap.”
The pock-marked, sand-colored pillar’s simplistic face is composed of a prominent brow bone and straight nose, suggesting deep-set eyes. It resembles carved faces found on other types of artifacts at Karahantepe, including full statues and busts.
“This example provides clear evidence that T-shaped pillars symbolized humans, and it is a unique and abstract example of the self-expression of the people of the period,” Karul tells the Art Newspaper. “Similar finds further define the cognitive transformation people underwent during the Neolithic age.”
Karahantepe, discovered in 1997, is nestled in Turkey’s arid Tek Tek Mountains National Park. It’s composed of structured rooms carved into bedrock, many of them filled with statues and carved pillars. Some of these dwellings also contained ancient tools, like grindstones, handstones and mortars and pestles.
Ancient hunter-gatherers built Karahantepe, Göbeklitepe and the area’s other settlements in the 10th millennium B.C.E., before the advent of agriculture. Karahantepe was occupied for about 1,500 years, after which its inhabitants buried and abandoned it, per the Art Newspaper. The sites prove that contrary to widespread belief, humans settled in permanent dwellings before practicing animal husbandry and farming. As Karul said in 2021, Karahantepe shows that “agriculture is not a cause, but the effect, of settled life,” reported the Art Newspaper.
The “sister sites” of Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe are both filled with symbolic sculpture. Notably, the former contains a room filled with 11 monumental stone carvings of phalluses—one of the earliest examples of “phallic symbolism,” Karul told the Art Newspaper in 2021. Elsewhere in Karahantepe are reliefs depicting insects, snakes, a fox and other mammals, as well as predators biting men’s heads.
The newly discovered pillar is the earliest example of a Neolithic person carving themselves onto a T-shaped column, writes Turkey’s minister of culture and tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, in a translated social media post.
The Stone Hills are “home to perhaps the most magnificent settlements of the Neolithic age,” Karul tells the Art Newspaper. “One of the things Karahantepe taught us in our first year was that nothing we encountered would be the ultimate surprise.”
one day, you stumble across gyomei’s secret collection of sculptures, and they are all different representations and angles of your body and face. he knows every inch by heart and you recognize his talent when passing your finger over one of the sculptures, you feel a bump where you have a scar, and another bump where your moles are. there’s not one little detail he omitted to include and you’re so flustered that he remembers all of you from that one time you were together. all of your curves, your imperfections, your lips, your ass, your breasts. it’s almost scary how every part of you is perfectly represented.
it’s one of his many ways to remember what you feel like between his hands since he can’t see you and it’s the hottest thing everrrr. he doesn’t even realize it-
Premise: Teaching children was his dream, taking care of his buddhist temple his responsibility. Finding love wasn't in his priority list, but not having to take care of everything on his own was certainly refreshing for Gyomei and made him feel warm inside.
Word Count: 3075
Note: This is set in the Kimetsu academy world, just so you know~
🎉Happy new year everyone!! 🎉
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The first years in the Kimetsu academy had the best homeroom teacher, everybody knew this and they were incredibly jealous of them in the senior classes.
Himejima Gyomei, despite of being this big and imposing, had a heart of gold.
He loved every single one of his students as if they were his own children, getting to know what they liked and what they didn’t, always willing to help them with their concerns and they would always end up opening up to him no matter how uncomfortable the subject was.
For example, Kanao got her first period in one of his classes and he, even if he had no idea of how to deal with such a problem, went to get her some warm tea and shared his cat shaped cookies with her while her sister finished class and was able to assist her further.
He was such a tender, heartwarming man, that everyone wondered why he was still single, his students specially.
“Himejima-sensei, when are you giving us a baby brother? I really wanna see what it would look like, don’t you Tanjiro? If it’s a boy I bet he’d look just like his dad, wouldn’t that be something?” Zenitsu used to be scared of him, so having him accepting him this much always made Gyomei’s heart sing.
“I can’t make babies without a wife…Do you want me to ask Kochou-sensei to add some sex-ed to your biology classes? It worries me a little your lack of knowledge in the matter…” his comment made the entire class burst out laughing, Zenitsu’s ears turning bright red.
“I know that! I just..I just…”
“What he’s trying to say is that he would like you to have a happy home with a wife and children, sensei. You do deserve that and we all agree.”
“Tanjirooooooo….!” tears staining his cheeks, he was always so grateful to have a friend that truly understood his every word to perfection to save him from eternal humiliation.
“I appreciate your concern, dear students of mine. But I can’t even own a cat, I have too much work with the school and the temple, I can barely sleep. That reminds me, remember we are having a festival this weekend in the temple grounds. Make sure to come if you have the time, there will be many delicious treats in booths this time around.”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Gyomei inherited a Buddhist temple a few years back when the owner, who had no children, had past. In his will, he stated that Gyomei was the only one he could think of as his successor even if they weren’t blood related, and as an orphan, he couldn’t feel more proud.
Taking the temple was fine at first, it was a middle sized temple hidden away in the middle of the city, not many people would come by and taking care of it mostly just meant some extra chores. The temple also came with housing, hence it was just a bit more of cleaning to do than usual.
But in resent months, his temple gained fame as there were rumors that you’d become stronger if you bought their amulets and prayed there, the owner being the proof of that.
Suddenly a bunch of teenagers started visiting frequently, mostly misguided ones, making it their meeting place.
To Gyomei was actually refreshing, he would share tips with them on how to grow muscle and some of them even started considering leaving the type of life they lived and become priests. That much was the influence he had on them, and it was a good one.
The ex-biker gang of teens were quite useful to have around, instead of doing mischief around town, they started coming to the temple daily and helping with the chores. The ‘training’ they received from Gyomei leaving clear results on their muscle gain and they were all livid.
This time around they were tasked to help him build the booths for the festival.
Among those, there was one boy who wasn’t part of that gang that you could still see always there in the temple as well, one of his beloved students, Shinazugawa Genya, who had the title of being his ‘disciple’ according to him and the other kids at least.
While he didn’t get any special treatment, he did focus on the arts of the religion itself with him more than with the others, as he doubted he would ever get an heir and wanted to entrust the knowledge he received from the previous priest to future generations.
The summer festival was somewhat of an unexpected request from the town’s municipality. Of course he knows temples frequently have festivals, specially during summer months, he’s been to quite a few himself. But he never thought he’d have to plan one…
The festivals are a sort of income for the towns people and also provide enrichment to the youth and the elderly, he couldn’t refuse the proposal. But he had no idea of what was needed besides the building side of things, so he decided to focus on that and take the opportunity to share some skills with the boys that might help them in the future.
One of the boys however, one of the most reckless of all, had a sister about his age, maybe a bit younger, who was the one raising him. He was aware of this, when the kid’s parents died he chose the wrong path, ended up meeting the wrong kind of kids and it was giving troubles to his sister who worked very hard to provide for both.
He decided to call for you, with the excuse of needing a female touch for the festival. The boy was over the moon knowing he could be more helpful than the others by just having an older sister, who happened to be very pretty as well.
“She’s here, Himejima-san! My sister!” you made your way up the long stairs lining the side of the street until you found your little bother clinging to this massive mountain of a man. He looked happy, like when he was little and would show you a rock he found in his way home, he used to be so pure hearted…maybe not everything is lost just yet.
“Hi, I’m (Y/N). I’m glad to finally meet you, you’ve been a great influence in my brother’s life, I’m immensely grateful.” the way your loving smile graced your features as you glanced at your younger brother, the way your voice was laced with so much appreciation and the way the slight breeze moved your hair around like a shoujo manga panel, made his eyes fill with tears; rivers of them going down his face almost instantly.
“Himejima-san? Oh my god, are you ok? Did I offend you in any way?” You were panicking, never thinking you’d see the day a man as massive and masculine as he was could sob out in the open like a baby.
“Don’t worry, nee-chan. He cries over everything…” the kids chuckled at his words, making the older man blush.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. You were just so pretty looking at your brother with such a tender loving gaze, it was a beautiful scene, even for someone who can’t see.”
“See? I told you guys…he’d cry at my sisters face! HA! I’m going to be Himejima-san’s son in law!”
“You mean brother in law, you idiot…” words came out of your mouth without thinking, making you flush bright red. “I- I didn’t mean it that way…it’s just..he doesn’t go to school so I have to correct him when he says something out of…” your mumbling made the man smile, you were a lovely woman, his heart aches knowing you’ve been raising this child on your own after your loss, dealing with a little delinquent most be even harder.
“It’s ok, I do the same all the time. I am a school teacher after all. It’s a good practice.”
“This is what you miss for not going to school! Himejima-san could be your teacher!”
“He wouldn’t, he’s a first year teacher, I’m a third year…” poking his tongue out at you, he went back to building the takoyaki booth with his friends.
“I’ve tried that, but they really don’t like school…”
“It’s hard for them, they’re actually good kids, they just don’t fit with society’s rules and that causes them to go a little wild. He’s been asking for materials lately and to be very honest, I don’t mind him using my money for paint and some wood instead of having him stealing it to buy cigarets…you’re a great influence in them.”
Your words were hitting the spot right now. He wasn’t doing this to get anyone’s recognition, he just always felt the need to pass his knowledge down, to help others succeed in life. But it felt good having someone acknowledging this for the first time, it made him feel like he was indeed doing some good out there, that inheriting this temple was actually work of the gods and that this was indeed his call.
“Thank you, your words are very kind.” he didn’t really talk much, but he was crying once more and this time around you found it more adorable than anything, specially his little handkerchief with an embroidered kitten on it.
“What can I help you with, Himejima-san?”
“Well, I need a priestess to help me make and sell the amulets. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“Oh, so that’s why you needed a woman, I see. Sure! What do I need to do?”
You spent all the afternoon learning the craft of making the pretty embroidered amulets. You never imagined a man like him would have such a hobby, in particular a blind man, but he was very good at it even. “So that handkerchief of yours…did you embroider it yourself?”
“Oh this?” he showed it to you, it was surreal, there was so much detailing it must have taking him ages to make. “Yeah I made it during lunch breaks, the other teachers are a bit loud so I just sit there on my chair keeping myself busy.”
“You’re really something else…” your giggles were something he began to appreciate from the moment you stepped on his temple grounds, but he grew fonder of them even more as you spent more and more time together.
The coming days you’d come and visit the temple with your brother after work; they’d already built most of the stalls and you were diligently working on the amulets with Gyomei. It was a nice dynamic, he’s never been this busy, yet it felt so invigorating having all this loving creatures around him all day long. Specially the one sitting next to him, dozing off on his shoulder with a needle dangerously close to her mouth.
“(Y/N)…” he tried shaking your shoulder gently but you were completely gone for the day. It was a hell of a day at work and your brother asked you to make his bento box as early as four in the morning since he’d be out all day building things. You were exhausted to say the least.
Since you weren’t waking up, Gyomei scooped you up in his arms and took you inside to his apartment, laying you gently on his bed. He then called the boys and told them to go home as it was already quite late, your brother going with them instead of staying with you, unsurprisingly.
While you continued sleeping peacefully on the man’s bed, he went to his kitchen to prepare dinner. Would you wake up in time for dinner? What would you even like to eat? Was this a date? He technically took you in his house without consent…would he be in troubles for this? He really doesn’t want you to hate him…
He went for the safest choice, some gyoza and side dishes, noting too heavy and easy to eat. He also had beers if you wanted one, but also juice, coffee even, he was a ready man.
“(Y/N)…I made some gyoza…come eat with me, you need to replenish your energy.” this time though you did hear him, more like the delicious smell coming from the kitchen got you to wake up.
“Himejima-san…?” you looked around in confusion as you were in an unknown location, him being the only familiar thing at the moment.
“You fell asleep outside, I brought you in so you wouldn’t catch a cold. The boys are home now, but I made you some dinner…” you could see he was nervous, it was cute how he was fidgeting with the pink apron he was wearing, the tips of his ears a little red, noticeable even on his darker skin. He was a sight to behold regardless if he was showing muscle or being tender like right now.
“Thank you, you’re always so kind to me.” getting up from his bed, you followed him to the kitchen area were he had a small table with two chairs ready for you to enjoy the goodness he just prepared while thinking in nothing but yourself.
“You don’t have to come help every day if you’re this tired. You could get sick, besides I bet you have better things to do…”
“I like helping you, Himejima-san…” he chocked on his gyoza, making you hand him his glass of water.
“Y-you do…?” he mumbled in between coughs as he was desperate for you to elaborate.
“I do. I like our amulet making time, and helping you clean and be with the kids in general. I’ve been spending a lot more time with my brother lately because of that too, getting to know his friends and of course…you…” nodding you kept on eating the delicious treats, while he processed your words.
“I like it too you know…all that…” he wasn’t the best at this, he wasn’t even sure if this was that sort of talk or not but he had to let you know he felt the same in case it was.
“Y-you…you’re very kind and easy to work with. I wish you were my priestess always, not just for the festival…” the implications of those words hit you harder than it should, he wanted you there always, that’s the only thing you got out of that, and your face was suddenly very red and warm.
“Are you in need of one? I mean…what would I have to do?” this got him out of his nervous trance, were you really interested in this?
“Well, the same but less frequent, as this is the first festival we hold, its normally not this busy, just help me make amulets and sell them on your time off, maybe help me swipe the leaves during fall, things like that…”
“Will I get a pretty outfit matching yours?” your giggles made themselves shown this evening, making him shake to his core.
“I can get that sorted out…” you’ve never seen him smile like that before, he was always so stoic looking, even in his soft moments.
“Then I guess we have a deal, boss~”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The festival weekend was finally here, the stalls filled to brim with delicious goodness and fun games.
His students came to the festival, Genya being as pushy as ever to get everyone spending their allowance in the festival. While Tanjiro was having a blast wining plushies for Kanao, Zenitsu was looking for his teacher.
“Himejima-sensei….can you rub my back? I think I pulled a muscle…” he plopped on a chair inside the little office the temple has, to his surprise, he wasn’t there but a lovely woman dressed in the most beautiful yukata he’s ever seen.
“Ugh…who are you??”
“I’m in charge of selling the amulets, would you like one? They’ll make you strong. Might help with your muscles~” you could sell him an empty plastic bag and he’d throw his money on your face immediately.
“Yes please, I’ll get all I can afford with this!” he handed you a bunch of coins, making you smile, “Is there a possibility you can write your number on the back of it? I mean…in case I want to buy more in the future…you know…” he was blushing and you just couldn’t hold your giggles in, an immediate call for Gyomei to come out.
“Agatsuma, you can come if you need another amulet any time, they will be for sale here in the temple, you're always welcomed.” the way you looked up at him all bashful and prettily made Zenitsu shudder with realization.
“WAIT! Sensei!! You didn’t tell me you had a lovely wife! Why would you keep her hidden? I almost try to get her for myself!”
“Like you could, man…” Genya was snickering on the side, shaking his head.
“S-she’s not m-my…”
“Here’s your amulet, Agatsuma-kun. If you ever need another just come, we’ll be here to sell you as many as you need~” you rested your hand on Gyomei’s forearm and his entire set of organs turned to goo, Zenitsu turning red at the implications of your words.
“Got it…Genya you should have told me sensei was dating, I almost did something stupid!”
“You always do something stupid…”
“W-we are n-not…d-“ he wasn’t able to finish his sentence as you pulled him down on the chair near the window, leaning down to hand him a cold drink. “Can you cover me for a second? I need to pee.”
“Anytime…”
And so, Himejima Gyomei was not that alone anymore.
Not only did he have his loving students, a home, two jobs and an entire biker gang of teens at his disposition, but he also had a loving woman by his side now, one who accepted him the way he was and was wiling to assist him without even questioning anything. Someone who makes his heart flutter and his insides melt.
Maybe this year will be better than the last…maybe this year he’ll get the things he only ever dreamed of having. Maybe this year, he’ll get to fall in love.
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Masterlist <- (Sanemi, Giyuu, Kyojiro and Tengen's version)
Note: This concludes the teacher version of my Kimetsu Academy series~ There might be a students version of this series a little later on, in case you're interested...👀
So after finishing the kny manga a few months ago, I decided to spend six hours researching the light novels and side manga to try and put together when the hashira became hashira so imma share it with yall. HOWEVER the side stuff and light novels don’t line up exactly to canon events and descriptions which could entirely be because the side stuff was written by someone different, even if it is official, but it could also be because the kny mangaka didn’t really think out the timeline idk though. This is what I have gathered so far since then. Discretion: My findings are not going to be 100% exact y’know? if yall have critiques that’s fine, there’s a lot of holes in this
Shinobu (18 years old):
Has been a hashira for 2 years
Became a hashira at 16 years old
Three year age difference between her and Kanae as she became head of the butterfly mansion at 14 when kanae died at 17
Kanae died at 17 years old, would be 21 in current events if she lived
Giyuu (21 years old):
“Completed” final selection at 13
Been a hashira for at least 4 years since hashira before Sanemi
He was at latest 17 when he became a hashira
Was a hashira before Kanae became one and when kanae and Shinobu both finished their training with the cultivators as seen in the hashira meeting with Gyomei
This suggests that he was a hashira for a few years before Sanemi making him a hashira around the age of 15
This falls in line of the logic that a fast time to becoming a hashira is two years
Probably became a hashira around the age of 15
Has been a hashira around 6-7 years
Mitsuri (19 years old):
Wasn’t a demon slayer at least two years ago at age 17
Became a demon slayer at age 17 ½ as she passed final selection in six months
Most likely became a hashira a year prior
Most likely age of becoming a hashira is 18 years old
Lines in the second light novel chapter 3 suggest that she was a hashira after Obanai and Muichirou
Obanai (21 years old):
12 years old when saved by the previous flame hashira (Rengoku’s father)
Was not present when Rengoku became a hashira at 18 ½ years old making Obanai 19 ½ years old and still not a hashira
Lines in the second light novel chapter 3 suggest that he was a hashira before Mitsuri
Probably around 20 when he became a hashira if we coordinate times with Rengoku and Mitsuri
Unknown if he became a hashira before or after Muichirou but most likely after (see Muichirou’s bullet points)
Sanemi (21 years old):
Tengen, Gyomei, and Giyuu were already hashira
Kanae was still alive
A hashira for at least 4 years since Kanae died four years prior and they interacted as fellow Hashira
Tengen (23 years old):
Wasn’t a hashira or demon slayer at 15 years old
Ubuyashiki’’s disease wasn’t as far progressed as it was during Sanemi’s first hashira meeting, meaning it was at least a few years before Sanemi was a hashira when Ubuyashiki asked him to join the slayers
Claims that he isn't talented and had to work very hard to get as good as he is, this suggests that it took at least a year or two to become a hashira (it is said that it usually takes 5 years to become a hashira or 2 if you’re quick enough)
Has training as a shinobi so it would make sense for the two years to be what Tengen used to become a hashira
At least five-six years as a demon slayer/hashira
Was at least 17-18 when he became a hashira
Been a hashira for around 5-6 years (maybe 6-7 years if I feel nice)
Gyomei (27 years old):
Been a hashira for at least 4 years as he was a hashira before Sanemi
Was the hashira that saved Shinobu and Kanae when they were little and a demon killed their parents
Became a hashira after two months of training
Was barely an adult when tragedy struck the temple he was staying at with the children
Probably 18-20 when this happened
Ubuyashiki immediately broke him out of jail and offered for him to join the demon slaying corps
This would put him becoming a hashira at around 18-20 years old
Has been a hashira around 7-9 years
Muichirou (14 years old):
Became a hashira after two months of being a swordsman
Was not a hashira at the time of Rengoku’s appointment to hashira about a 1 ½ years ago
Both parents died when he was 10 years old
That spring Amane came to visit them to try and recruit them to the demon slayers
That summer a demon came and killed his twin brother, he was 11 years old
Wasn’t a hashira when Rengoku became a hashira meaning he was 12 ½ and still not a demon slayer
Probably joined sometime after Rengoku when he was 12 ½-13
Lines in light novel 2 chapter 3 suggest that he was a hashira before Mitsuri but no evidence found if he was one before Obanai however he is a prodigy and became a hashira fast meaning its most likely he was a hashira before Obanai
Rengoku (20 years old):
Giyuu, Tengen, Gyomei, Shinobu, Sanemi were all hashira already
Wasn’t a hashira when Mitsuri first trained as a demon slayer which was two years prior
Mitsuri became a demon slayer at age 17 ½ so Rengoku was 18 ½
Rengoku very soon around the time of Mitsuri passing final selection replaced his father as the flame hashira after defeating lower moon 2
Has been a hashira for 1 ½ years
Age of becoming a hashira: 18 ½ years old
ASSUMED TIMELINE 1:
Gyomei (27 years old)- became a hashira around 7-9 years ago
Giyuu (21 years old)- became a hashira 6-7 years ago
Tengen (23 years old)- became a hashira 5-6 years ago
Sanemi (21 years old)- became a hashira at least 4 years ago
Shinobu (18 years old)- became a hashira 2 years ago
Rengoku (20 years old)- became a hashira 1 ½ years ago
Muichirou (14 years old)- became a hashira around 1 ½ years ago
Obanai (21 years old)- became a hashira around 1-1 ½ years ago
Mitsuri (19 years old)- became a hashira around 1 year ago
AGAIN this is just what I put together at 4am from appearances and line from the manga, light novels and side manga, it is not necessarily the correct timeline but the kny timeline in the canon manga is weird so I digress.
