Hasankeyf makes top 15 must-see list

In its March issue, the monthly Smithsonian Magazine included the southeastern historic town of Hasankeyf in its 15 Must-See Endangered Cultural Treasures of the World list. The magazine also published a promotional article about Hasankeyf, which is host to numerous historical artifacts but will soon be flooded as part of the construction of the Ilısu Dam.

In the spotlight
Hasankeyf has long been under the spotlight of both the international and national community for its historic value and all its ancient treasures are likely to be destroyed by a dam that is expected to provide around 2 percent of Turkey’s electricity needs. The members of Turkey’s Doğa (Nature) Foundation paid a visit to Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay on Thursday, together with Turkish pop star Tarkan in an effort to get a promise from the minister to find a solution for the site.

The looming tragedy in Hasankeyf was also highlighted in an article by Diane M. Bolz in the same Smithsonian issue. "Hasankeyf and its surrounding limestone cliffs are home to thousands of human-made caves, 300 medieval monuments and a unique canyon ecosystem Ğ all combining to create a beguiling open-air museum," the article said. "But the city, along with the archaeological artifacts still buried beneath it, is slated to become a sunken treasure. Despite widespread protests from local authorities, archaeologists, architects, preservationists and environmental groups, the massive hydroelectric Ilisu Dam is expected to be completed in 2013."

Noting the long history of Hasankeyf, which has been host to more than 20 cultures and was of significant commercial importance in the Middle Ages, the article points to the fact that all its treasures will be lost if construction on the dam goes ahead, citing Turkish scholars on the issue. "About 200 different sites will be affected by the Ilısu Dam," Zeynep Ahunbay, a professor of architectural history at Istanbul Technical University, was quoted by the article as saying.

Hasankeyf is the most visible and representative of its kind due to its picturesque location and rich architectural content. It is one of the best-preserved medieval sites in Turkey, according to Ahunbay.

The article said despite a Turkish government thesis that the dam would provide power and irrigation to the region, opponents claimed that most of the electricity generated by the dam would go to the big industrial centers in the west of the country.