Chinese archaeologists are investigating traces of the past at the Neolithic settlement of Yoğunburç in Şanlıurfa.
China’s first archaeological excavation project in Türkiye is being carried out at Yoğunburç in Şanlıurfa, contributing to cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The excavations were launched under the “Stone Hills Project” led by the Culture and Tourism Ministry and are being conducted in cooperation with the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum and the Archaeological Research Center of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration.
Chinese archaeologists, participating in an archaeological excavation in Türkiye for the first time, are investigating traces of the past at the Neolithic settlement in Şanlıurfa, a region that offers important insights into human history.
Professor Gan Caichao, head of the Yoğunburç excavation, told Anadolu Agency that the site was the first in Türkiye where Chinese archaeologists have conducted excavation work.
Gan said excavations began on July 16 with a 22-member team, including seven Chinese archaeologists, and expressed his satisfaction at working in Şanlıurfa.
He said they wanted to further develop cooperation between Türkiye and China in the field of archaeology.
Emphasizing that the work at Yoğunburç was important not only archaeologically but also for relations between the two countries, Gan said: “Yoğunburç excavations are a very important bridge between the two countries. It is important for Chinese people to learn about Türkiye, Şanlıurfa and the historical sites here in the future. As a state, we attach great importance to the excavations here. They are very important for the development of friendship and tourism between the two countries.”
Sister-city process launched
Gan recalled that Rao Quan, China’s vice minister of culture and tourism, had also visited Şanlıurfa before the excavations began.
Saying that officials attach great importance to the Yoğunburç excavations, Gan said a process had been initiated to establish a sister-city relationship between Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality and Yulin Municipality in China.
“This will be good publicity for both countries and we hope many tourists will come,” he said.
