Read The Genesis Secret: for Free Online

meaning: they wanted to dig a much deeper trench to access a new megalith. Breitner was evidently worried about the safety of such a serious excavation. Eventually Breitner sighed, shrugged at Rob, and went off to sort things out. As he went Rob saw that one of the workers was scowling: a strange, dark expression. There was definitely a tension here. Why? He wondered if he should mention his suspicions now that he and Christine were alone. The noise of the dig was muffled at this distance-all Rob could hear were little tinklings of trowels and spades, small noises occasionally carried over, on the hot desert wind. He was about to ask his question when Christine said, ‘So what do you think of Gobekli?’
    ‘It’s incredible. Of course.’
    ‘But do you know how incredible?’
    ‘I think so. Don’t I?’
    She looked at him sceptically.
    ‘Why don’t you tell me, then?’
    Christine sipped at her tulip-shaped glass of tea, ’Think about it this way, Rob. What you have to remember is…the age of the place. Twelve thousand years old.’
    ‘And…?’
    ‘And recall what men were doing then.’
    ‘What do you mean?
    ‘The men who built this place were huntergatherers.’
    ‘Cavemen?’
    ‘In a way, yes.’ She gave him a direct, earnest look. ‘Before Gobekli Tepe, we had no idea that such early primitive men could build something like this, could create art and sophisticated architecture. And intricate religious rituals.’
    ‘Because they were just cavemen?’
    ‘Precisely. Gobekli Tepe represents a revolution in our perceptions. A total revolution.’ Christine finished the last of her tea. ‘It changes the way we must think about the entire history of mankind. It’s more important than any other dig anywhere in the world in the last fifty years and one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history.’
    Rob was intrigued, and very impressed. He also felt a little like a schoolboy being lectured. ‘How did they make it?’
    ‘That is the question. Men with bows and arrows. Who didn’t even have pottery. Or farming. How did they build this enormous temple?’
    ‘Temple?’
    ‘Oh, yes, most probably it’s a temple. We’ve found no evidence of domestic habitation, no sign of the most rudimentary settlement, just stylized images of the hunt. Celebratory or ritualistic imagery. Possibly we have found niches for bones, for funeral rites. Breitner therefore thinks it is a temple, the world’s first religious building, designed to celebrate the hunt, and to venerate the dead.’ She smiled calmly. ‘And I think he is right.’
    Rob put down his pen, and thought about Breitner’s twinkling and merry expression. ‘He is certainly a cheery kind of guy, isn’t he?’
    ‘Wouldn’t you be? He is the luckiest archaeologist in the world. He is uncovering the most spectacular site.’
    Rob nodded, and took more notes. Christine’s enthusiasm was nearly as infectious as Breitner’s. And her explanations were more lucid. Rob still didn’t quite share their wonderment at the ‘total revolution in perceptions’ Gobekli represented, but he was beginning to anticipate a very dramatic article. Page two of the main paper, easy. Better still-a big feature in a colour supplement with some vivid colour pictures of the carvings. Moody shots of the stones at night. Photos of the workers covered in grime…
    Then he remembered Radevan’s reaction to the mention of the place, and the worker’s angry glare. And Breitner’s slight change of mood when theytalked about Rob’s article. And the tension about the trench. Christine was over by the samovar, filling their glasses with more hot sweet black tea. He wondered whether to say anything. As she returned, he said, ‘Funny thing is, though, Christine, I know this dig is amazing and all that. But does everyone feel the same way?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Well…I just…got some vibe from the locals…some real attitude. Not so good. This place upsets some