The animal imagery of Göbekli Tepe will likely continue to be a subject of productive scholarly debate for the foreseeable future.

The Future of the Site and Its Study

Göbekli Tepe will be excavated, analyzed, and interpreted for decades to come.

The unexcavated portions of the site contain structures and materials that will, when eventually opened, significantly expand the evidence base from which interpretations are drawn.

Future research directions include several that are already underway or in early stages.

The Taş Tepeler project, as mentioned above, is expanding the comparative framework by investigating multiple related sites across the region.

Each of these sites will add to the understanding of the regional cultural tradition within which Göbekli Tepe is situated.