“Zerzevan Castle begins journey to UNESCO World Heritage status”
Zerzevan Castle and Mithras Sanctuary, an ancient historical site located in Turkey’s Diyarbakir province, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List for 2020. The site features impressive remains, including a 12-15 meters high and 1200 meters long wall, a 21 meters high watchtower and defense tower, a church, administration building, residences, grain, and weapon warehouses, underground sanctuary, shelters, rock tombs, water channels, and 54 water cisterns. Its 1800-year-old entrance has also been recently unearthed during excavations.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Karacadağ Development Agency are currently working to submit a file to UNESCO to add the site to the main list of World Heritage sites. A visitor reception center is also being built at the entrance of the castle to welcome more tourists.
According to the head of excavation and restoration, Assoc. Dr. Aytaç Coşkun, being included in the main World Heritage list is essential for raising awareness and visibility of the site worldwide. Currently, 19 places in Turkey have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the goal is to make Zerzevan Castle and Mithras Sanctuary the 20th or 21st place on the list.
The site is not only essential for promoting tourism in the area, but it also represents the region’s history and its cultural heritage. Therefore, it is hoped that the application file will be completed by the end of this year, and the site will be added to the main list of World Heritage sites by 2024 or 2025. Once completed, it will pave the way for Diyarbakir to have four places in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
