Excavation work accelerated at the Ancient City of Anavarza

Adana Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger received information about the ongoing excavation work at the ancient city.

Governor Köşger noted that efforts will be made to include the Ancient City of Anavarza on the permanent World Heritage List and to promote the Medieval Castle within the ancient city.

'EXCAVATIONS HAVE BEEN CONTINUING FOR 132 YEARS'

Making a statement at the site, Köşger said, "The Ancient City of Anavarza is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. If the excavations carried out so far had progressed faster, this city could have been on the permanent list. We have received information about the work that needs to be done, and we will work to ensure that whatever is necessary for the required excavations is carried out. Our Ministry of Culture and Tourism has included it among the cities where excavations will be conducted for 12 months.

Excavations will be carried out throughout the year. There are ruins pointing to a wide variety of periods, from before the Common Era to the Middle Ages. As the Adana Governorship, we will do our best. One of the oldest excavations in the world has been continuing for 132 years. Uncovering a massive city is a long-term process," he said.

'WE AIM TO BRING IT INTO TOURISM'

Pointing to two important details in the ancient city, Governor Köşger said, "One of the two important elements here is that it is a Medieval Castle, and the other is that it is the city where Dioscorides lived. In the public memory of the people of Adana, there is the story of Lokman Hekim losing his book on the Misis Bridge, and the work Dioscorides did on pharmacy, as well as his life in Anavarza. It is thought that there is a connection between these two historical pieces of information and the people who lived here. We aim to uncover this and, along with it, bring Anavarza into tourism," he said.

Kozan District Governor Bahattin Alp Arslanköylü, Kozan Mayor Mustafa Atlı, and Ancient City of Anavarza Excavation Head Associate Professor Fatih Erhan accompanied Köşger during his inspection.

News Source: 12punto