Archaeologists in southeastern Türkiye have uncovered hundreds of human bones at Göbeklitepe, a site that dates back about 10,000 years—when early humans were transitioning from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities. The bones are found scattered across the site, including inside its massive stone structures, and their presence has long puzzled researchers. Now, the discovery of the site’s first intact human burials may provide new insights into how and why these remains ended up where they are. Over the past 30 years, archaeologists have collected 928 bone fragments from men, women, and children of all ages, covering nearly every part of the human body. Some of these fragments show marks that researchers believe could be linked to ritual practices, but these interpretations remain uncertain. In a recent study published in PLOS One, researchers Julia Gresky from Georg-August University in Germany and Lee Clare from the German Archaeological Institute in Türkiye examined two newly discovered burial sites at Göbeklitepe. One contained the remains of a young woman placed on a layer of stones, while the other was a shared grave holding at least three individuals whose bones had been rearranged. In the laboratory, the team analyzed the remains for signs of natural wear, such as fractures, rodent bite marks, and mineral buildup. They found that the bones from the two burials showed many of the same types of damage as the scattered fragments found elsewhere at the site. This suggests that some of the changes observed in the bones occurred after the individuals were buried, rather than before. Based on this, the researchers propose that many of the scattered bones originally came from burial sites higher up on the hill. Over time, erosion and landslides may have moved dirt and debris downhill, carrying the damaged bones into the lower parts of the site. While the movement of soil provides a plausible explanation for many of the bone fragments, the researchers note that other factors, such as burial customs, cannot be ruled out. They emphasize that while their findings offer a strong explanation, they do not exclude the possibility that other mortuary practices—either happening at the same time or over different periods—may have also contributed to the distribution of bones at Göbeklitepe.