The aim is to attract more visitors to Catalhöyük, located in the Cumra district of Konya, which is one of the first urbanization models in Anatolia and the world, and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with its discovery and exhibition areas.
The Head of the Excavation Team and Associate Professor at Anadolu University, Dr. Ali Umut Türkcan, stated that they will begin excavation works in the region in July. Türkcan mentioned that they uncovered a large structure in the eastern area during the excavation last year and emphasized the presence of belief structures with bull horns adorning altars, wall reliefs, and special interior arrangements.
Türkcan expressed that with the opening of the Catalhöyük Presentation and Reception Center, which is nearing completion, visitor interest will increase. He stated the following: "There was a slowdown due to the pandemic, but recently we have seen a significant increase in visitor numbers. It has reached 50,000 visitors annually. Tours have also started to come. I anticipate that this number will increase with other projects and the addition of new exhibition areas to the site. With the new projects and excavations, we will have an unparalleled experience in Turkey. I believe that the number of visitors will exceed 200,000 annually. It is possible to say that Çatalhöyük has become a new center of attraction."
Türkcan pointed out that life lasted for 1,100 years in Çatalhöyük, indicating a settlement that preserved itself, reflecting the period from the Battle of Malazgirt to the centennial of the Republic. He stated, "You are witnessing a settlement that is rarely found in the world, which reflects and preserves itself from Malazgirt to the centennial of the Republic. We can present this as a cross-section. Not every archaeological site can do that. The proximity to Konya is an advantage, and the visitor center is also significant. It has the features that allow us to showcase information about the social and religious life of this society."
