Restoration of two monumental tombs in Termessos

Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and dating back to the 4th century BC, this ancient city is undergoing its first archaeological excavations this year as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Heritage for the Future Project. The excavations at Termessos, situated in a challenging geography reminiscent of an eagle's nest, are led by Associate Professor Dr. Mustafa Koçak from Antalya Science University. The efforts focus on the necropolis area, which contains over 3,000 tombs, most of which are sarcophagi, and more than 900 inscriptions. Teams are working to restore two monumental tombs, each approximately 14 meters tall, which have been down for hundreds of years. Experts conducting durability analyses on the identified original stones have processed each stone in three dimensions and created a computer model of the monument. Once the restoration is complete, the stones will be placed back onto their original podiums at the site of the monumental tombs. Dr. Koçak, who found another monumental tomb's inscription, noted that it belonged to a woman and was commissioned by her and her husband. Located at the foothills of Güllük Mountain, Termessos is situated in a rugged area and is considered to have been spared from looting after ancient times due to its harsh terrain. Historical records state that Alexander the Great besieged Termessos in 333 BC but could not capture the city due to its strong defense.