Past Watch Site

With its strategic position on the Tigris, the cliff city of Hasankeyf long served as the cultural boundary between the Anatolian plateau and Mesopotamia, prospering as a fortified stronghold and commercial center along the Silk Road. Marco Polo likely crossed the Tigris here on his way to China. Following the fourteenth-century Mongol invasion of the area, however, Hasankeyf fell into decline. The city eventually became part of the Ottoman Empire and has since remained a part of modern Turkey. After World War I, Hasankeyf was abandoned, leaving only a few people living in its ancient caves.

Today, Hasankeyf is threatened by the Ilisu Dam project, which is planned to flood the site by 2013. The Ilisu Consortium has proposed to move the architectural remains of Hasankeyf to another site. The problems with this plan are numerous, most notably that the character of the site is drawn from its location on the Tigris River and its cliffs and caves. The issue of water management has long been a concern for Turkey and its neighbors, and promises to continue to grow as a threat to cultural heritage sites. It is hoped that placement on the Watch List will call attention to this wider threat, and encourage the Ilisu Consortium to develop alternate plans that are more sympathetic to the historic character and importance of Hasankeyf.

UPDATE

In December 2008, European underwriters of the Ilısu Dam project from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland ordered work on the 1.2-billion-euro project suspended for 180 days, as it was not meeting World Bank environmental and heritage standards. In July 2009, the three underwriters withdrew their support for the project entirely. The Turkish government sought local financing, and since then Akbank and Garanti Bank have provided the required backing, against protests by environmental advocates. A new settlement to house the residents of modern Hasankeyf is being constructed by Turkey’s Housing Development Administration, including plans for a museum to exhibit ancient artifacts from the region. Excavations that have been conducted by Batman University have resulted in many discoveries, including a notable twelfth-century water purification system. In December 2012, salvage archaeology activities that would remove ancient artifacts and structures from the site before it is flooded were announced. The Ilısu Dam project is expected to be completed in 2015.

Last update: December 2012