During an inventory of cultural and historical sites in the Kurdish province of Amed (tr. Diyarbakır), a suspected prehistoric settlement was discovered in the district of Silvan. According to the city administration, the finds could date back to around 10,000 BC.
The discovery was made during an investigation by the Office for Culture and Social Affairs, which focused on the rural areas of the villages of Siltînî, Mala Hermo, Xapa, and Kurbeytê. During their research, teams from Silvan came across cisterns carved into rock, stairways, tombs, underground water systems, and the remains of ancient walls, all of which point to a long history of settlement.
According to experts working on site, the finds are similar in structure and construction to the well-known prehistoric settlement area of Çayönü (Qota Berçem) in the district of Ergani, which is considered one of the oldest Neolithic sites in the country. In addition, a natural basin was discovered that resembles the famous fish pond in Urfa, another historically significant site.
Also striking are the remains of walls, which apparently served to enclose several villages and may have had a defensive function.
Appeal to academia and the ministry
Silvan’s co-mayor, Sevim Biçici of the DEM Party, spoke of a find “of great significance for the entire region.” She called on the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the archaeological community for support: “We would like archaeologists and historians to conduct investigations on site. The support of academic circles is urgently needed for the scientific evaluation and protection of this heritage.”
Biçici emphasized that the find is part of humanity’s shared heritage. The municipality’s goal is to document and protect the site and, in the future, make it accessible for educational and tourism purposes—provided that the necessary studies and approvals are obtained.