11,000-year-old 'abandoned' site found with 'erected penis' pillars and head carvings

11,000-year-old 'abandoned' site found with 'erected penis' pillars and head carvings

Archaeologists in Turkey came upon a bizarre prehistoric site full of phallic pillars and the carving of a human head - plus the remains of snakes, foxes and real human heads to boot

A strange ancient site in Turkey has unearthed penis-shaped pillars, baffling the archaeologists who dug up the phallic artefacts.

Southern Turkish abandoned city Karahantepe dates back to before writing was invented - with citizens forced to express themselves in different and sometimes sexual ways.

Diggers also found remains of foxes, snakes, and even human heads in the incredible lost city.

"All pillars are erected and shaped like a phallus," wrote prehistoric archaeology professor Necmi Karul in a research paper.

The Istanbul University prof didn't make a guess at how or why the penis pillars came about, according to Live Science

Karahantepe was unearthed on September 30, with scientists now able to study the strange site.

Professor Karul explained the parade site was probably home to "a ceremonial process, entering the building from one end and exiting at the other end, having to parade in [the] presence of the human head".

But scientists will have to look a closer both at the central carved head, the penis pillars, and more before they can make conclusions.