Göbeklitepe reopened to visitors after major earthquakes
Two major earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş and 10 provinces in the south of Turkey caused the death of thousands of people.
In the earthquakes that caused great destruction, museums and ruins were closed for security reasons.
Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe ruins, which are considered to be the zero point of history, were not damaged in the earthquakes. However, for security reasons, visitors were not allowed to enter.
Müslüm Çoban, Secretary General of Şanlıurfa Regional Tourist Guides Chamber, said that Göbeklitepe was opened to visitors as of April 3rd.
Çoban said, “As of today, Göbeklitepe in Şanlıurfa has been opened to visitors. Many visitors to the city in the previous days and weeks wanted to go to Göbeklitepe. Especially after the earthquake, we had guests who wanted to see Göbeklitepe after they came to the region and distributed their aid, but it was not open. As of April 3, Göbeklitepe opened”
British tourist Jems Askar said, “Many museums and most places are closed in this region. The opening of Göbeklitepe after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is very good news, please come and visit.” he said.
British archaeologist Rozana Amatec emphasized the importance of Göbeklitepe in terms of world history and said, “Göbeklitepe is of great archaeological importance. It was very good for us that it was opened after the earthquake. Everyone should come and see this place.”
Known as the zero point of history, Göbeklitepe is located 18 km northeast of Şanlıurfa province in Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Region, near Örencik village of Haliliye district.
Göbeklitepe is a Neolithic archaeological site dating to around 9600-9500 BC.
Göbeklitepe excavations continue under the chairmanship of Professor Necmi Karul, a lecturer in the Department of Archeology, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University.
Karul said that the finds from the latest excavations show that the first agricultural experiments in Göbeklitepe and Taş Tepeler region may have been made.
