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Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi has announced that the Tas Tepeler (Stone Mounds) Project in Türkiye is currently the largest archaeological initiative in the world.
"Archaeologists from across the globe are working at the site," Yazgi stated. In September, a team of Japanese scientists will also begin excavations at Karahantepe.
Speaking at the Sanliurfa Cultural Route Festival, Yazgi emphasized the significance of Karahantepe, describing it as a site as crucial as Gobeklitepe.
“Gobeklitepe placed Türkiye at the top of the global archaeological map, and Karahantepe’s unique discoveries will elevate this even further,” he said.
Yazgi noted that excavation activities continue at multiple sites under the Tas Tepeler Project, providing an unprecedented scientific foundation.
He also mentioned ongoing efforts to transform the Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum into the world’s largest center for Neolithic research and exhibition. “We want visitors to fully discover the essence of Urfa,” Yazgi added.
Highlighting a surge in cultural tourism, Yazgi shared that 750,000 visitors explored Gobeklitepe in 2024, with recent holiday periods seeing overwhelming crowds.
During the festival, previously unseen artifacts from the Sanliurfa Museum’s storage were displayed for the first time. “These finds will shed light not only on this region but also on unknown aspects of human history,” Yazgi remarked.
He further noted that the findings at Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe challenge established ideas about the transition to agriculture and early human beliefs, contributing to a more accurate historical narrative.
“With increasing interest from both domestic and international tourists, Türkiye is well-positioned to be among the world’s top three cultural tourism destinations,” Yazgi concluded.
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