Yesemek Archaeological Sitevisitor guide.

Yesemek was first discovered and introduced to the scholarly world in 1890 by Felix von Luschan while conducting excavations at Zincirli (Sam'al) on behalf of the German Orient Society. Systematic investigations and excavations were carried out between 1957 and 1961 by a team directed by Prof. Dr. Bahadır Alkım, uncovering nearly 200 sculptural drafts and publishing comprehensive scientific studies. In recent years, excavations conducted by archaeologist İlhan Temizsoy unearthed buried sculptures, bringing the total count to 300 statue and relief rough-outs; the area was subsequently landscaped by the Gaziantep Museum Directorate and transformed into an Open-Air Museum. Landscaping improvements were completed in 2005 under sponsorship by Opet. In the second half of the 2nd millennium BC, after the region fell under Hittite dominion, this stone quarry commenced operations or acquired a new function under Hittite masters. Alongside Hittite master stonecutters, Hurrian artisans and craftsmen are known to have worked here. Following a temporary decline, workshop activities intensified during the Neo-Hittite Kingdoms from the 9th century BC onward. In this second epoch, Hittite, Syrian, Aramaic, and Assyrian artistic elements predominated. Designated as Orientalizing style, this hybrid artistic tradition influenced nascent Aegean cultures to the west, constituting the foundational core of classical Greek art. During the Neo-Hittite era, under Hittite Great King Šuppiluliuma I, the quarry workshop was managed by the Kingdom of Sam'al (Zincirli) between 1375 and 1335 BC, employing indigenous Hurrian populations. With the destruction of Sam'al by the Assyrians at the close of the 8th century BC, the Stone Quarry and Sculptural Atelier ceased operations, and the artisan workforce abandoned the site. According to circular no. 99196 dated 07.05.2012 from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the application dossier for nominating Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop to the World Heritage Tentative List was forwarded to UNESCO, officially entering the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 13.04.2012. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS GAZİANTEP CASTLE GAZİANTEP ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM ZEUGMA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE ZEUGMA MOSAIC MUSEUM RUMKALE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE