The archaeological excavations initiated in 2012 in order to bring the historical Gevale Castle, which constitutes the silhouette of Konya, to the surface are continuing at a height of about 700 meters.
This year’s part of the excavation work carried out at the historical Gevale Castle by the cooperation of Selçuklu Municipality, Ministry of Culture, General Directorate of Konya Mills and Necmettin Erbakan University continues to work at the summit. Gevale Castle, which is located to the west of Konya and is one of the important guard houses of Seljuks as well as many historical periods, will be brought to Konya tourism with the works done. A number of architectural spaces were unearthed with the rigorous work carried out by the academic excavation team. Glazed, unglazed ceramic pots, legs, some metal objects and a variety of small handmade items were identified. In addition, work will begin to restore the temples, poterns and towers.
The Summit Will Come Out Totally
Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Art History Instructor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan University stated that the excavations of Gevale Castle started with a surface survey in 2012. Assoc. Dr. Zekeriya Şimşir, “Our excavations are being carried out with permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Mines. In 2013 and 2014, the temple area, various rock carvings and some cisterns were unearthed. The summit was also held in 2014 and various venues were established here. Since 1 June 2015, we have started to work with about 30 workers this year. During Ramadan, these studies continued with a great devotion. We have recently concentrated our work on Gevale’s summit. This year we aim to dig up the summit completely, “he said.
In addition to the excavation work, some restoration work will be done. “The restoration project of the cisterns as well as the places known as the temple and the potern were drawn. The restoration projects of cisterns, poterns and bastions have been approved by the board and the production will begin. In this year’s summit studies, more architectural spaces with no overlaying are found. We have also seized many finds. We identify glazed, unglazed ceramic pots, legs, some metal objects and various small handcrafts as finds. They are doing their cleaning work by a team. Then conservation and restoration will be done. It is thought that those who have an inventory value will be exhibited in a museum to be realized in the future.
From Gevale to Konya
Shimshir who expressed that the castle of Gevale is made of twin hills, “The place known as Great Gevale is 1710 meters and Küçük Gevale is 1670 meters high. Our excavation work continues at Little Gevale. After the completion of the excavation and restoration work, an environmental facility project will be carried out here. It will be able to trace every part of the city with the sightseeing route to be determined by the navigation points, the view and the viewing terraces. Thus, from the beginning of the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Karamanoğlu and Ottoman era, which was used in part and in terms of culture and history will be a very important area of Konya tourism, “he said.
Culture City Konya 