***Editie online: Anul nr. III

februarie 6, 2025

Turkey- journalist FPAD Tülay Çetinkaya Saraçoğlu:Are external powers trying to close the Göbeklitepe excavation site by planting trees? 

In the second part of our article series, Taş Tepeler Project Coordinator and Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Necmi Kurley reveals that the work at Göbeklitepe is being carried out with science-based meticulousness and that speculations that the excavation area has been afforested are unfounded.

Sources: https://haber.dk/dis-gucler-gobeklitepe-kazi-alanini-agaclandirarak-kapatmaya-mi-calisiyor-2/35521

Prof. Dr. Necmi Karul made the following statements:

„There are two things in common with these kinds of sensational news: Those who produce these news are either trying to make commercial gains or are after gaining popularity. Those who spread these claims are either those who believe them or those who are disturbed by the Scientific studies conducted here. There is no other explanation.

The German Archaeological Institute and Istanbul University are working together in Göbeklitepe, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey is also involved in this scientific study. These institutions have no pressure or instructions on how or for how long the excavations will be carried out. It is complete nonsense to think that someone abroad decides on the duration of these excavations or how they will be carried out.

Photo: Tülay Çetinkaya Saraçoğlu/Haber.dk

The issue of planting trees

The tree planting in Göbeklitepe is a subject that has come to the fore with complete misunderstandings. The claim that the trees were planted to cover the excavation area and prevent the work is absolutely unfounded. These trees may have been planted due to local economic concerns regarding the expropriation processes. Landowners may have planted trees in order to increase the expropriation price. This is not a situation related to stopping or preventing the excavations, but an initiative carried out entirely for individual economic purposes.

The excavated area of ​​Göbeklitepe is private property and when the excavations started, the expropriation of these lands came to the agenda. The landowners planted trees in order to receive more expropriation fee. The expropriation fee of the land varies according to different statuses such as flat land, wetland, agricultural land. If there are trees on it, the expropriation fee is higher. The fact that these trees are valuable trees such as olives or pistachios also affects this situation. Trees such as olives bring a higher price during expropriation. The trees in the excavation area were planted by the landowners after the excavations started and this is already a known fact.

There has been a decision made regarding the transportation of these trees. We are waiting for the right season to implement this decision because we do not want to cut these trees, we want them to live. We plan to uproot the trees and plant them somewhere else during the winter months. This process will be carried out when the necessary conditions for the transportation of the trees are met. The people who planted the trees will also be asked about this process and suggestions will be made to them within an ethical framework.

Why do trees need to be moved?

These trees may damage the archaeological remains below with their roots over time. Therefore, their remaining in the excavation area may cause problems in the long term. This is a scientific necessity. In order not to damage the excavations carried out in Göbeklitepe, the trees will be moved under appropriate conditions.

It should not be forgotten that these operations are carried out by the relevant institutions, not by archaeologists. Archaeologists can only give an opinion on whether the tree roots have damaged the remains below. However, the moving process will be carried out with the coordination of different institutions.”


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