Taş Tepeler Site in Turkey Becomes International Tourist Destination

Prof. Dr. Necmi Karul, coordinator of the Taş Tepeler Project, said that overseas exhibitions and promotional events have turned the archaeological area in Şanlıurfa into a globally recognised destination. Exhibitions in Rome’s Colosseum and Berlin’s museum attracted strong interest, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, embassies and the Yunus Emre Institute are planning further shows in Tokyo and other European and Asian cities. This year a Chinese research team joined the excavations at Yoğunburç, underscoring the project's multilateral research model that highlights the Neolithic transition of settled life. Karul noted that visitors are now coming not only for Göbeklitepe but to explore the broader Harran Plain settlements, prompting the development of new transport links and visitor routes that connect the region’s archaeological sites.

The heightened international profile is expected to boost foreign tourism to the area and reinforce Turkey’s role in collaborative prehistoric research.