Tavşanlı hosts 6th Turkey Historical Mines Conference

The 6th Turkey Historical Mines Conference is being held in the Tavşanlı district of Kütahya, bringing together 33 academics from various Turkish universities to discuss the region's mining heritage and archaeological potential.

Prof. Dr. Erkan Fidan, head of the Tavşanlı Höyük excavations, highlighted that the Kütahya and Tavşanlı area possesses rich natural resources ranging from silver and gold to coal and iron. The conference aims to scientifically explore why Tavşanlı Höyük served as the largest Bronze Age center in Western Anatolia.

Tavşanlı District Governor Ömer Faruk Özdemir noted that mining has been a cornerstone of the local identity and the Republican economy since the late 1930s. He emphasized that the industry has shaped the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the district for nearly a century. The event is organized through the cooperation of the Tavşanlı District Governorate, Tavşanlı Municipality, and the Tavşanlı Chamber of Commerce and Industry, following initiatives by Karadeniz Technical University and the KAT Mining Association.