The Tourism Potential of Çayönü Tepesi and Hilar Rocks from the Perspective of Archaeo-tourism and Geo-tourism

Abstract

Çayönü Tepesi, one of the outstanding Neolithic settlements of Anatolia, and Hilar Rocks with their well-preserved karst shapes are located approximately 6 km southwest of Ergani district in Diyarbakır province. Çayönü Tepesi is one of the rare settlements identified in Anatolia, Levant, Mesopotamia and Zagros regions with an uninterrupted stratigraphy from the beginning of the Pottery Neolithic Period to the first half of the Pottery Neolithic Period. Çayönü Tepesi and the rock tombs on the Hilar Rocks next to it are substantial tourism destinations with a cultural heritage identity. However, the Hilar rocks are also important in terms of their geological heritage value, both with their natural site identity and their karstic shapes. This study evaluates the karstic shapes of the Hilar Rocks in terms of geo-tourism and offers suggestions to improve the tourism potential. It also aims to evaluate and present the archaeo-tourism and geo-tourism potential in the context of the natural relationship between the Çayönü Tepesi Neolithic settlement and the Hilar Rocks, thus emphasizing the importance of the cultural and geological heritage of the region.