Turkey is located in a geography that has hosted many civilizations from past to present. Since the Turks have adopted the nomadic lifestyle in the earlier time, they have not left any works from these times, but many works emerged when the Uyghurs adopted a settled life. Thus, architectural works began to be seen in Turks. Some of the works were so solidly and skillfully made that they managed to survive until today. Artifacts from ancient times with high historical value have been taken into the UNESCO cultural heritage list and taken under protection.
Göbekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe is among the most popular historical places in Turkey lately. This place, which was taken under protection by UNESCO in 2018, is located near the village of Örencik in Şanlıurfa. It consisted of 10-12 T-shaped obelisks arranged in a round plan, and stone walls were built between them. In the center of Göbeklitepe, two obelisks are higher than the other obelisks. On these obelisks, there are various symbols with human or animal figures. Göbekli Tepe is also called the “Zero Point of History” because it is the oldest temple in the world.
Looking at the ruins and symbols found in Göbekli Tepe, it is possible to make many interpretations about the social lives and cultures of the people who lived here. It is a must to stop by here to be informed about this subject and to explore this unique temple from all aspects. Göbeklitepe is a cult building that is one of the historical places to visit in Turkey.
Göreme National Park and Cappadocia
Cappadocia is one of the most interesting and visited regions in Turkey. Located in Nevşehir, this region, where structures called fairy chimneys are frequently encountered, manages to attract tourists. Fairy chimneys are the shapes formed as a result of the erosion of the layers formed by the eruption of many volcanoes in the region by various weather events such as wind and rainwater.
There are hundreds of underground cities built on the rocks and built for security purposes in and around Goreme. These cities consist of very narrow passage areas and remain a mystery. When visiting the Cappadocia region, underground cities should not be missed.
In addition to underground cities and fairy chimneys, there are pigeonhole valleys and three-dimensional castles in the region. These places with magnificent views are located on the high sides of the city and offer you the opportunity to drink coffee with the view. At the same time, hot air balloon tourism in the region is highly developed. To catch the view in Cappadocia in the first light of the morning, flying with the balloon is very preferred by the tourists.
Nemrut Mountain
Mount Nemrut, also known as Komagene in ancient times, is a mountain that is located near the Kahta district of Adıyaman and is 2150 meters high. Mount Nemrut, like other historical places in Turkey, is home to many ruins. Antiochos tumulus, giant statues, Eskikale, Yenikale, Karakuş Tepe, and Cendere Bridge are some of these ruins.
In addition to these, the region is also home to lion and eagle statues. The lion horoscope on the west terrace is a very interesting structure. 3 stars consist of 16 rays on this lion, and these stars are thought to represent Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury. This horoscope is the oldest known horoscope in history.
Troy Archaeological Site
Truva, or with its Latin name Troy, is one of the most famous ancient cities in Turkey, located on the Biga Peninsula. The ancient city where the Trojan War, described in Homer’s famous Iliad, took place, has been excavated many times at intervals. As a result of these excavations, it was understood that the first settlers were from the Anatolian people, and due to its location, the city also has an important place in maritime trade.
In the excavations carried out since 1970, it has been determined that the city was founded 7 times in different periods in the same place and that 33 layers belong to these different periods. The oldest settlement in the region coincides with the Bronze Age. In the region, respectively, Persians, Alexander the Great, Seleucids, Pergamon Kingdom, and Romans dominated.
Arslantepe Mound
The last settlement to be taken under protection by UNESCO is Arslantepe Mound in Malatya. Located 7 km northeast of Malatya, this mound is one of the largest mounds in Turkey. Many historical materials and artifacts were found during the excavations in the mound, where the first city-state structures were found. Many items were found, from ceramic pieces to cups, from arrowheads to beads.
Many ornamented, copper alloy, silver inlaid vase models were found during the excavations in the region. The region is also rich in water resources and therefore suitable for agriculture. Arslantepe is located in a central location where the strength of the region due to its natural structure and its high agricultural potential are combined.