Turkish Airlines sponsors Tas Tepeler Project, boosting tourism

Turkish Airlines sponsors Tas Tepeler Project and pledges support, showcasing Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage globally

Turkish Airlines, a leading global carrier, has become the main sponsor for the Tas Tepeler Project, a major archaeological initiative encompassing 12 historical sites, including the world-renowned Gobeklitepe.

The airline has also been named the brand name sponsor for the Welcome and Research Center from 2024 to 2029, to be built within the Tas Tepeler Project area.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy expressed confidence in the burgeoning collaboration between Turkish Airlines and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, foreseeing further growth in their partnership.

Turkish Airlines pledges support for Tas Tepeler

Speaking at the sponsorship signing ceremony, Ahmet Bolat, chairman of the Turkish Airlines Board of Directors and Executive Committee, emphasized the significance of the Tas Tepeler region, home to many ancient settlements.

Bolat underscored Turkish Airlines’ commitment to promoting Turkish tourism globally and spotlighting Tas Tepeler on the international stage. He announced Turkish Airlines’ proud sponsorship of the Tas Tepeler project, affirming its dedication to advancing tourism and showcasing Türkiye’s cultural heritage.

Minister Ersoy elaborated on the Tas Tepeler agreement, highlighting the ministry’s comprehensive approach to Anatolian Archaeology since 2018. He emphasized efforts to reinforce domestic excavation directorships and enhance excavation programs, aiming to bolster Türkiye’s position as a leader in archaeological preservation.

Acknowledging the importance of the partnership with Turkish Airlines, Ersoy outlined plans to establish a research center and visitor center within the Tas Tepeler project area. He anticipated the World Neolithic Congress and emphasized the potential for future collaborations between Turkish Airlines and the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Gobeklitepe and beyond

Göbeklitepe, discovered in the mid-90s near Sanliurfa, is home to the world’s oldest monumental architecture, dating back to 9,600 B.C. Surpassing the age of the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by over 7,000 years, Gobeklitepe revolutionized our understanding of early human history. Alongside 11 additional settlements in the surrounding rugged hills, collectively known as “Tas Tepeler”, offers insight into the dawn of human civilization.

The Tas Tepeler, dating back 12,000 years, marks the transition from shelter to permanent dwellings and the emergence of early villages. This period witnessed humanity’s first utilization of pottery, basic trade practices, and communal gathering spaces within monumental structures found in the region.

These sites reveal a larger community with shared beliefs between 12,000 and 8,000 B.C., pioneering sedentism, specialized labor, and early forms of social organization. Recent excavations also unveiled the emergence of pictograms, illuminating the evolution of this ancient culture.

Source: Newsroom