Klaus Schmidt ( December 11 , 1953 -- July 20 , 2014 ) was a German archaeologist and prehistorian who led the excavations at Göbekli Tepe from 1996 to 2014 .
Klaus Schmidt ( December 11 , 1953 -- July 20 , 2014 ) was a German archaeology professor . He led the excavations at Göbekli Tepe from 1996 to 2014 .