UNESCO World Heritage Tentative ListThe Seljuk Square Cemetery, located in , was opened by Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Department of Art History, Assistant Professor, with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mehmet KulazIt hosts extensive excavation and restoration work under the presidency of the cemetery. These works are carried out to repair the damage in the area that passes through the middle of the cemetery and was used as the Ahlat-Tatvan highway during the First World War.
The excavation team aims to restore the historical appearance of the cemetery by restoring the tomb chambers called sarcophagi, shahides and akit that have been destroyed in this process. Excavation Director Kulaz stated that they focused on the destruction of the cemetery and made an intensive effort to repair the damages that occurred during the passage of the Ahlat-Tatvan highway.
The mud, stating that the work continues in the priority intervention area, said, “Our aim is to eliminate the traces of the destruction caused by the First World War and to restore the cemetery to its original state.”
Kulaz emphasized that the work is planned to be completed by the end of the month and noted:
- “We are working intensively on the gravestones and coffins that have been damaged, toppled, buried or broken in the 470-meter area.”
- “In this context, we are trying to intervene not only in the graves and coffins but also in the underground chamber tombs.”
- “We continue our work to protect and restore structures that are on the verge of collapse and have been largely destroyed. We have achieved significant success in this regard.”
Kulaz said, “I think we will complete the destruction here in a short time,” and announced that the restoration process is continuing.
