Göbeklitepe ancient site attracts interest of notables

ŞANLIURFA - Anatolia News Agency

AKP Istanbul deputy Nimet Baş was one of the visitors to Göbeklitepe. AA Photo

A group of people including parliamentarians, academics and journalists have visited the ancient site of Göbeklitepe, which contains some of the oldest traces of human existence, in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa. The ancient site, which is included on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage and attracts attention for its monumental structures from 12,000 years ago, is visited by many Turkish and foreign tourists every year. The goal of the group is to promote Göbeklitepe and increase the number of tourists this year.

The group, which first visited the historical Balıklıgöl site and caravanserais, shopped there and talked to residents. They then went to Göbeklitepe and received information about the ancient site.

Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul deputy Nimet Baş said they had made the visit to contribute to its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and draw the world’s attention to Şanlıurfa.

Professor Deniz Ülke Arıboğan said they had initiated a campaign a few months ago on a social sharing website and organized the visit to Göbeklitepe online.

Göbeklitepe was declared a first-degree protected site by the Culture and Tourism Ministry in 2005. The people who inhabited the area 12,000 years ago were among the first humans to engage in agriculture along with hunting and gathering.