Archeological excavations across 12 key locations around Şanlıurfa in southeastern Türkiye – ranging from the iconic Göbeklitepe near the central district to Karahantepe, Sayburç and Çakmaktepe – are boosting tourism in the region.
Work is currently underway at Neolithic sites across Şanlıurfa as part of the Taş Tepeler Project – meaning “Stone Hills” in Turkish, an ongoing six-year initiative hailed as one of the most extensive archaeological endeavors in the history of the Republic of Türkiye.
Under the coordination of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, archaeological excavations are currently underway at Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, Çakmaktepe, Sayburç, Ayanlar, Sefertepe, Gürcütepe, Harbetsuvan, Yeni Mahalle, Kurt Tepesi, Mendik and Yoğunburç as part of the project.
With researchers from Türkiye working alongside international researchers from China, the U.K., Germany and Japan, the research is uncovering findings regarding the lifestyles, rituals, subsistence strategies, architectural structures and production technologies during the Neolithic period.
The most prominent archaeological site in the region is Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage site hailed as the "zero point of history."
By promoting these discoveries from other sites in addition to Göbeklitepe and increasing the number of accessible areas, the goal is to further elevate Şanlıurfa's cultural tourism potential.
Aleks Tedro, visiting Göbeklitepe with his wife from Poland, said they traveled to Türkiye simply because they were curious about the area.
Expressing their admiration for the historical site, Tedro said: “We came here because of the ancient stories told about this place. We have read a lot about it in books. My wife and I took an extra flight to Türkiye just to come here. Due to our interest in history, we sometimes travel to Egypt, Malta, and South American countries as well. We are deeply fascinated by these ancient structures. This place is truly extraordinary.”
Ibrahim Kocakaya, another visitor exploring Göbeklitepe with his family, said they traveled from Türkiye’s central province of Konya to see the historic site.
“We are at the zero point of history,” said Kocakaya, highlighting their keen interest in historic locations. “We took some time off and came straight here for a tour. We are very curious about what the ongoing excavations and surveys will reveal next. We plan to visit every year.”
Meanwhile, Aydın Aslan, the provincial director of culture and tourism for Şanlıurfa, stated that the Taş Tepeler Project receives significant attention from domestic and foreign visitors alike.
Aslan pointed out that the project operates on a multi-national model, adding that promotional campaigns for the Taş Tepeler Project are taking place internationally as well as within Türkiye.
Aslan highlighted that the ongoing excavations in the area attract keen interest from both domestic and foreign guests, adding that this would directly increase the number of days tourists spend in the city.
