Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak visited the Çayönü Excavation Site, one of the earliest settlements in history, and received information about the ongoing work.

Co-Mayor Serra Bucak, accompanied by Ergani Co-Mayor Birsen Azak, DBB Deputy Chief Executive Özgür Yıldız and staff from the DBB Culture and Tourism Unit, visited the Çayönü Excavation Site located in the Ergani district.

Co-Mayor Bucak briefed on the works

Welcomed by Associate Professor Savaş Sarıaltun, Head of Excavations and lecturer at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, together with the excavation team, Co-Mayor Bucak toured the site and was informed about the ongoing work. Sharing details about the excavation, Sarıaltun noted that the Ergani Plain is one of Mesopotamia’s most significant settlement areas in terms of archaeology, and that Çayönü is regarded both as the centre of the Paleo-Dicle culture and as one of the turning points in human history.

Sarıaltun reminded that traces of the transition to agriculture dating back around 10,000 years were first found at Çayönü, as well as evidence of the first public square planning, emphasising that the site is also one of the world’s oldest known settlements.

Co-Mayor Bucak and the accompanying delegation then toured the Çayönü Hill Open-Air Museum, receiving further information on both the progress of the excavations and the historical significance of the area.

Co-Mayor Bucak also met with the women workers at the site, wishing them success in their work. Following the visit, she held discussions with the excavation team on possible future collaborations.

The visit concluded with a tour of the Excavation House located at Ergani Science High School.

The excavation work, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Sarıaltun, will continue until 31 December.

Hilar Caves

Co-Mayor Bucak later visited the historic Hilar Caves. During the visit, she received information about promotional activities at the site, which serves as a touristic and cultural centre, and exchanged views on shortcomings regarding environmental landscaping.