There’s quite a bit of evidence for the existing timeline. People quibble about radiocarbon dating, but there’s multiple methods. For example by comparing rings on enough wooden objects you can get a firm this can’t be older than X date.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Göbekli_Tepe#:~:text=Radiocarb....
Also note that Gobekli Tepe is neither the oldest site we know of nor unique in having monumental architecture. Even within the Tepler culture, Karahan Tepe dates earlier and I'm sure you heard of the older site of Jericho.
So yea not quite 12,000 years ago.