The World’s Eyes Are on Meram’s Historical Treasures

Meram Municipality is preserving the district’s rich historical heritage for future generations through its continued investments in history and tourism. Visiting the ongoing archaeological excavations at Larende Gate, Karahöyük and Lystra—three sites expected to strengthen Meram’s position as a major tourism destination—Mayor Mustafa Kavuş said, “By protecting our past, we are building our future and opening Meram’s historical treasures to the world.”

Meram Municipality remains firmly committed to supporting projects that will uncover the district’s thousands of years of history while enhancing its tourism potential. As part of these efforts, Mayor Mustafa Kavuş conducted detailed inspections at three major archaeological excavation sites currently underway across the district. During his visits to the Larende Gate and historic city wall remains in Şükran Neighborhood, Karahöyük, and the ancient city of Lystra, Mayor Kavuş received updates from officials on the latest progress.

The mayor’s first stop was the excavation site at Larende Gate and the historic city wall remains, where work is being carried out as part of the Şükran Urban Transformation Project. Inspecting the excavations conducted in cooperation with the Konya Museum Directorate, Konya Metropolitan Municipality and Meram Municipality, Mayor Kavuş noted that a team of approximately 60 people is carrying out the work with great care and precision.

His second stop was the Karahöyük excavation site, where he examined the ongoing work and the artifacts uncovered during the excavations. Mayor Kavuş received a detailed briefing from excavation director Associate Professor Gönca Dardeniz Arıkan. He noted that the excavations, now in their fifth season, are being carried out under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye with the support of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, adding that Karahöyük is of great significance not only for Konya but also for world archaeology.

Highlighting Karahöyük’s history dating back to around 3000 BC and its role as one of Anatolia’s most important trade centers, Mayor Kavuş said, “At Karahöyük, a city spanning thousands of years is being revealed layer by layer. Highly valuable artifacts from different periods, ranging from around 2500 BC to the 1500s, are being uncovered. Houses, workshops and numerous finds reflecting everyday life have been discovered here. We now have concrete evidence showing that Anatolia and Konya have been important centers of trade for thousands of years. The discoveries made here will soon go on display. With its rich historical heritage and tourism potential, Karahöyük is set to become a major attraction in the future.”

The final stop on Mayor Kavuş’s inspection tour was the ancient city of Lystra, a site of exceptional importance to both world history and the Christian faith. After receiving a briefing on the ongoing excavations from Associate Professor İlker Mete Mimiroğlu, Mayor Kavuş emphasized that Lystra is a cultural heritage site of international significance. He noted that Lystra, one of the locations mentioned in the Bible and visited by Saint Paul, holds profound spiritual importance for Christians around the world. Even before the excavations are completed, academics, students and tourist groups from various countries have already begun visiting the site.

Mayor Kavuş also said, “This is an important site not only for Meram and Konya but also for the entire Christian world and for world history. Because it is mentioned in the Bible and was visited by Saint Paul, people from across the globe are eager to see it. Even while the excavations are still ongoing, visitors from different countries continue to arrive. Once the work is completed, we expect visitor numbers to increase significantly.”

Mayor Kavuş stated that, once the excavations are completed, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to come to Konya not only to see Lystra but also Kilistra, Karahöyük and Meram’s other historical landmarks. He added that these archaeological destinations will make a strong contribution to the tourism generated by the Mevlana Museum, strengthening the city’s international profile while delivering significant economic benefits.