Published on : Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Located in Turkey’s south-eastern Sanliurfa province, Gobeklitepe was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in June last year.
Rahime Yasar, the Vice President of the Sanlifurfa Tourism Development Association and owner of a tourism agency, said that tourist numbers have increased in the region.
Yasar said that the region expects around two million tourists this year.
She said Gobeklitepe is one of the most visited places in the region, and added that their expectation has increased regarding foreign tourists.
Gobeklitepe has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since 2011.
It was discovered in 1963 when researchers from Istanbul and Chicago universities were working at the site. Since then, the excavations have never stopped.
T-shaped obelisks from the Neolithic era measuring 3-6 meters (10-20 feet) high, and weighing 40-60 tons were found.
During the excavations, 12,000-year-old diverse artifacts like 65-centimeter-long (26-inch) human statues were also discovered.
A 4,000-square-meter steel roof was erected to protect the site during preparations for its candidacy.
After being temporarily closed to visitors for restoration work, Gobeklitepe was partially reopened in February.
Tags: year of Gobeklitepe