Known for its natural beauty, historical remains, endemic plant species, and rich biodiversity, the Taşköprü Valley (Geliyê Godernê) is being destroyed day by day due to the ongoing construction of the Silvan (Farqîn) Dam. While many bridges are being built across the district even though the dam has not yet become operational, villages that will be submerged are now harvesting their last crops. In the valley, where a large viaduct has already been constructed for the dam, natural landscapes are slowly being buried under concrete.
In the area where bridge construction continues, dynamite explosions have caused severe damage to the historic Taşköprü village, which has been partially destroyed. Restoration work has begun on the half-ruined Taşköprü, but while its original stones have disappeared, it is now being repaired with imitation white stones. There are also claims that the bridge’s historic stones were stolen.
A second Hasankeyf in the making
Construction of the Silvan Dam, which began in 2010 and is expected to become Turkey’s second largest dam, will submerge more than 50 villages in the region. Villages and agricultural lands belonging to the districts of Kulp (Pasûr), Silvan, and Lice (Licê) will be destroyed. As construction continues, a large part of the Kulp district will be swallowed by water once the dam becomes operational.
Beyond the Taşköprü Valley, the dam will also hold water in the Pasur Stream basin, erasing memory across three tributaries of the district. This dam, which will destroy not only human and animal life but also historic sites, is set to create a second Hasankeyf in the region. While villagers anxiously await the uncertain date of its operation, a massive ecocide is already unfolding in the areas where construction is underway.
Step by step plundered
One of the first areas targeted was the Taşköprü Valley, where gendarmerie posts were built in the places designated for the bridge. Under the supervision of these posts, village guards began cutting down trees. Thousands of trees around and near the valley were felled and put up for sale with the permission of the forestry directorate.
After the felling, dynamite blasts were carried out at the entrance of the valley for the bridge’s foundations. These explosions damaged both the historic Taşköprü and houses in the nearby village. Stones from parts of Taşköprü collapsed, while cracks appeared in villagers’ homes.
Following the damage, officials announced that the bridge would be restored and closed it to traffic. Built by Armenians in the 1920s and standing despite all hardships, the bridge suffered even greater destruction after the most recent explosions.
Where are the stones of the historic bridge?
A restoration project was launched after the damage, yet it does not align with the historic structure of the bridge. In this restoration, the section of the bridge on the Kulp side was found to be completely demolished, with the stones of one arch missing. The bridge, rebuilt with new stones far removed from its original character, raises questions about where its historic stones went and what has been done with them.
When we asked the workers at the site, they responded: “The bridge collapsed, we are restoring it; it will be submerged anyway. We do not know where the stones are, but they were all damaged.” The latest images of the ongoing restoration reveal how history is being erased. While the fate of the damaged stones remains unknown, local residents we spoke to expressed suspicion that the stones had either been sold or stolen