Travel writers explore Türkiye’s Sanliurfa, its ancient history

ISTANBUL

A group of travel writers visited Sanliurfa with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism following the American Travel Writers Association's congress in Istanbul.

Travel writers from the US and Canada toured the Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum -- home to artifacts from UNESCO World Heritage sites of Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe, where Neolithic stone structures and carvings offer new insights into early human civilization, challenging conventional understandings of prehistoric societies.

The museum showcases nearly 5,000 artifacts, including treasures that provide insights into ancient civilizations and humanity’s past.

Known as the "zero point of history," the Neolithic-era discoveries highlight ancient lifestyles with carved stones, human and animal figures, and inscriptions.

Chez Chesak, executive director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, told Anadolu that he enjoys telling stories about lesser-known places in Türkiye, like Sanliurfa, which are unfamiliar to many North Americans.

He added that sharing the stories helps American and Canadian tourists better understand Türkiye and its people.

Travel writer Jacqueline Swartz called the discovery of Neolithic architecture “thrilling,” noting that it could change the understanding of the era in the coming years.

“Many of us, including myself, have written about archeology in our work. But this is really special,” she said.

Another writer, Ron D'Var, said the discoveries made in recent years could provide answers to future questions about humanity.

He noted that the findings have “set a whole new ground” for how we view the history.

Sanliurfa, located in southeastern Türkiye, is known as the "City of Prophets" and is rich in history, with its significance stretching to ancient times.

*Writing by Beril Canakci