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Türkiye aims to carry the Gobeklitepe exhibition to major cultural centers around the world, with new stops in Europe and the Far East under discussion, Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Nadir Alpaslan said.
The exhibition, titled “Gobeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place,” was previously held in Rome and Berlin, where it drew strong public interest. Alpaslan said the ministry now plans to build on that momentum by taking the show to more international venues, including possible locations in Japan.
Speaking during the opening of the Sanliurfa Culture Route Festival, Alpaslan said Gobeklitepe, often described in Türkiye as the “zero point of history,” remains central to the country’s cultural promotion abroad.
He said the exhibition had received extraordinary attention wherever it had been shown, adding: “We will continue these exhibitions in the world’s important centers. We will carry the Gobeklitepe Exhibition to major centers in Europe and the Far East. In the coming days, we may see this exhibition in every corner of the world.”
For international readers, Gobeklitepe is a major Neolithic archaeological site in southeastern Türkiye, known for its monumental stone structures and its importance in discussions of early human ritual life.
Alpaslan also pointed to ongoing work in the wider Tas Tepeler region, where he said the world’s largest Neolithic excavation project is being carried out.
He noted that scientists from Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and China are expected to take part in excavations in the region this year. Although Gobeklitepe is already widely known, Alpaslan said Türkiye wants to keep up its international promotion.
He added that archaeological work is no longer limited to short excavation seasons, as restoration, analysis and assessment now continue throughout the year.
Alpaslan said new findings from the upcoming excavation season are expected to shed light on human history, based on information received from researchers working in the field.
He also linked the region’s cultural heritage to Türkiye’s wider tourism goals, saying the country would continue to strengthen its position among the world’s leading tourism destinations through its rich historical, cultural and culinary diversity.
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