Int’l scholars gather at Türkiye’s Kultepe to discuss climate change

The 6th International Kultepe Conference, held at the Kultepe Kanish-Karum Mound in Anatolia, drew 75 researchers from 12 countries.

The event, organized in collaboration with Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and the Kultepe Excavation Directorate, took place in the garden of the Kultepe Visitor Center.

Professor Fikri Kulakoglu, Director of the Kultepe Kanish-Karum Mound Excavation, noted that the conference brought together experts who have worked on tablets and artifacts uncovered at Kultepe.

He highlighted the conference’s focus on climate change and its impacts on human societies, cultures, and politics.

“Understanding Kultepe’s significance requires experiencing it firsthand. Its vastness and importance are best appreciated on-site,” Kulakoglu remarked.

The conference featured 36 oral presentations and nine poster presentations.

Kulakoglu emphasized that seeing Kultepe in person provides a deeper understanding of its scale and significance.

“The presence of archaeologists, anthropologists, and other experts enriches the discussions and insights about Kultepe’s historical context.”

Participants included scholars from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Austria, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Syria Iraq and Iran.

Professor Cecile Michel from Hamburg University, who specializes in Assyriology, expressed her enthusiasm for the conference.

“Seeing the actual locations of families mentioned in the tablets is thrilling. It brings the findings to life in a way that is deeply engaging.”

Kulakoglu also noted that the proceedings of the previous five conferences have been published, reflecting the commitment to sharing research findings with both academic circles and the public.