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Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop in Gaziantep's Islahiye district is drawing visitors into a journey through thousands of years of history, with the site continuing to contribute to tourism in the region after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras.
Located in southeastern Türkiye, Yesemek is included on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List and brings together an ancient stone quarry, sculpture workshop and open-air museum.
Museum official Ali Cicek described Yesemek as the world's largest open-air sculpture workshop and said the site continues to welcome visitors from around the world.
Cicek said the name Yesemek comes from the village where the site is located, while the ancient stone quarry lies about 1 kilometer uphill from the workshop.
According to Cicek, the Hittites first discovered the quarry and set up the workshop after finding that the stone was suitable for carving.
Visitor numbers slow down during the hottest summer months before picking up again in spring and early autumn, he said. Cicek added that the site received around 5,000 visitors per month during comparable periods last year.
Ahmet Yildirim, who visited Yesemek with his family, said they regularly travel to Islahiye during the summer and decided to explore the museum together.
"Everyone should come and see it. You can really feel the history here. Everyone should visit this place," Yildirim said.
Referring to Türkiye's "terror-free Türkiye" process, a term used in the source for efforts aimed at ending terrorism in the country, Yildirim said he believed developments in the region would also have a positive effect on tourism.
He added that he travels to the area once or twice a year and has noticed changes both in the region and in people's attitudes.
A young visitor, Menekse Miray Yildirim, said she had wanted to see both the dam and Yesemek Open-Air Museum and that she enjoyed her visit.
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