Excavations at the site have led to the discovery of more than 250 T-shaped obelisks similar to those at Göbeklitepe, an official UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the world's oldest temple and dubbed the "zero point of history."
Necmi Karul, head of the Karahantepe Excavations team, said the site has gained national and global prominence over the years.
He hailed the Culture and Tourism Ministry's decision as "appropriate and timely."
"The new designation as an archaeological site will attract a lot more visitors to Karahantepe, and help further boost its importance," he told Anadolu Agency.
