Tepe
/ˈtɛp.i/noun
An archaeological mound or hill, especially one formed from the accumulated remains of ancient settlement.
Did you know?Many famous Near Eastern archaeological sites, including Göbekli Tepe, preserve the Turkish word *tepe*, meaning “hill” or “mound,” rather than an occult term or secret code.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Turkic, proposed
Proto-Turkic
*tepe
“Top, summit, or hill; the deeper origin is uncertain”
Old Turkic
Old Turkic
tepe
“Height, hill, or elevated place”
Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Turkish
tepe
“Hill, summit, or mound”
19th Century
Turkish
tepe
“Hill or mound, including artificial archaeological mounds”
20th Century
English
tepe
“An archaeological mound, especially in the Near East”
Modern English
English
tepe
“A mound or hill marking the remains of an ancient settlement”