Türkiye's Gobeklitepe artifacts to be displayed at Rome's Colosseum

By Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu

Replicas of three stone artifacts from Türkiye’s Gobeklitepe, a 12,000-year-old heritage site in Anatolia, will be showcased at the Colosseum in Rome for six months, beginning Thursday.

According to information obtained by Anadolu, the exhibition will feature replicas of the Gobeklitepe artifacts, excerpts from films presented at the Gobeklitepe Welcome Center, digital installations, and informational panels.

Hosted on the second floor of the iconic Colosseum, the exhibition will run until April 20, 2025.

The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums commissioned the replicas and the Italian-subtitled films specifically for this exhibition.

Turkish Airlines will transport the replicas to Rome free of charge.

An opening ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., attended by Turkish Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Gokhan Yazgi and his Italian counterpart. Attendees will be offered bread made from wheat produced in Gobeklitepe, along with baklava, Turkish delight, and dishes from both Turkish and Italian cuisines.

Gobeklitepe, known as the world’s oldest temple, has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since 2011. It was discovered in 1963 when researchers from the universities of Istanbul and Chicago began working at the site.

Located in Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe has seen record numbers of visitors in recent years. The introduction of hot air balloon tours marks a significant expansion of tourism offerings in the area, providing both local and international visitors with a unique perspective on this archaeological marvel.