Sayburç to Feature a Village Museum Showcasing Neolithic Heritage and Urfa’s Living Culture

In Şanlıurfa’s Sayburç, one of the key sites of Türkiye’s “Taş Tepeler Project,” archaeologists plan to preserve 9,000-year-old Neolithic remains while also creating a unique village museum that highlights the region’s mid-20th-century rural life.

Excavations at the early Neolithic settlement of Sayburç, located in the heart of Türkiye’s historic Şanlıurfa province, are revealing not only monumental prehistoric structures but also layers of Roman-era remains and traditional village architecture from the 1950s. The site is being developed into an open-air archaeological museum, with a dedicated village museum to celebrate local cultural heritage.

The project, led by Associate Professor Eylem Özdoğan of Istanbul University’s Department of Prehistoric Archaeology, began in 2021 under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Plans include restoring two traditional stone houses and a village guestroom (köy odası) adjacent to Sayburç’s famous Neolithic reliefs, offering visitors an immersive experience that bridges thousands of years of Anatolian history.

A Living Museum: From Prehistory to the 20th Century

“Sayburç is unique because visitors can experience Neolithic ritual architecture, Roman ruins, and rural Urfa culture all in one location,” said Özdoğan. “We aim to restore these 1950s buildings to create a space that tells the story of traditional village life alongside the prehistoric discoveries.”

The village museum will feature household objects, cooking and storage equipment, and narratives about the families who once lived there. “People visiting Sayburç for its Neolithic monuments will also gain insight into the daily life and traditions of Urfa,” Özdoğan added.

Sayburç: A Rising Star of the Taş Tepeler Project

The Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) Project has placed Şanlıurfa at the center of global archaeological research, with Sayburç emerging as one of its most significant sites alongside Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe. Excavations at Sayburç have uncovered striking Neolithic reliefs and carefully planned architecture dating back to the 9th millennium BCE, offering rare glimpses into the world’s earliest settled communities.

With the addition of the village museum, Sayburç aims to become a hub for cultural tourism, allowing visitors to explore an unbroken narrative of Anatolian life—from the dawn of agriculture to the rural traditions of the 20th century.