The groundbreaking ceremony of the Paleontology Museum and Millet Kiraathanesi project, which will be built by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and will exhibit the 7.5 million-year-old fossils that are unique in the world, was held. Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Memduh Buyukkilic shared very important information about the excavations carried out in Kayseri, which is an open-air museum, while AK Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ozhaseki said that this project will provide a great work and income in terms of tourism.
Governor of Kayseri Sehmus Gunaydin, Mayor of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Memduh Buyukkilic, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Chairman of Local Administrations Mehmet Ozhaseki, AK Party Kayseri Deputy Ismail Tamer, AK Party Provincial Chairman Saban Copuroglu, Melikgazi Mayor Mustafa Palancioglu, Kocasinan Mayor Ahmet Colakbayrakdar, Talas Mayor Mustafa Yalcin, Hacilar Mayor Bilal Ozdogan, rectors, provincial directors, excavation Director Prof. Dr. Oksan Basoglu, Kayseri Chamber of Commerce President Omer Gulsoy and many guests attended the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Old Archeology Museum.
Making the opening speech of the program, which started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, Head of Excavation Prof. Dr. Oksan Basoglu said that Kayseri is a very important center in terms of paleontology and natural history, and that they will exhibit here unique finds in the world, a first in Turkey. Stating that President Buyukkilic was a pioneer in the establishment of the museum, Basoglu thanked everyone who contributed, especially Buyukkilic.
Afterwards, the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality, Dr. Memduh Buyukkilic, stated that Kayseri, which is an open-air museum, comes to mind when culture is mentioned, and said, “We continue our works in accordance with the conditions of the day, with an understanding that responds to expectations, with our services, openings and groundbreaking.”
Buyukkilic said that the museum they are currently in is the Museum of Archeology, which has a history of about 60 years, and said, “It is considered as an important work of the Republic period. I would like to thank our team, which we aim to preserve, both by making this museum a function, the Paleontology Museum, and by adding the Millet Kiraathanesi next to it, to revitalize this place, and to do such a beautiful work in the heart and center of the city.” Explaining that Kayseri is an open-air museum, Mayor Buyukkilic almost visualized Kayseri in his speech and said;
“There is an image adorned with a historical texture in all our districts. When we stop and look at Cumhuriyet Square, we remember. We thank our Minister Ozhaseki for making it come to life. Every day is filled and overflowing in the evening, so we made it functional with our activities and added value to our city. At the same time, our Archeology Museum is filling up, overflowing, and is followed by everyone. After the covered bazaar in Istanbul, Meydan can be described as the second-largest covered bazaar in Turkey. We care about this aspect. Based on our inns such as the Mosque Kebir and Complex, Pamukhan and Gonhan next to it, we share that there is a historical texture there, that we have baths and madrasahs. We remember the Hunat Hatun Complex in our square, when we wander around, we remember our Kursunlu Mosque, our Republican-era work Burunguz Mosque, the Roman Tomb, the Sahabiye Madrasa next to it, and the Gevher Nesibe Medical Faculty or Hospital, the most important work of the Seljuk period, the beginning of the medical faculties 750-800 years ago, Zeynel Abidin Tomb or similar, Why am I counting them? We don’t describe Kayseri as an open-air museum just to say that. Thankfully, our Kayseri has come to light as a worth seeing, visiting and researching. We continue to work in solidarity in our districts to see how we can contribute more in this direction.”
“WE DISCOVERED NEW MOSAICS IN INCESU ORENSEHIR”
Stating that excavations are continuing in all four regions of Kayseri, Buyukkilic said, “The excavations in Keykubadiye and our Kiziltepe mansion continue. Dear Minister, we have discovered and unearthed new mosaics in the area known as Oncesu Orensehir, we have taken a decision from our assembly. I would like to share that the person who unearthed the Zeugma mosaic in Gaziantep started to work as a consultant here. Because he is very excited, he cares about this place, I want to remind you that it will add value to the value of our country. Our support and excavation of Kultepe Kanis Karum, which has been going on for years, continues, and I want to share that we will make an achievement with the tablet museum related to it.”
Mayor Buyukkilic emphasized that the excavations regarding the fossils were continuing and shared that they were not only in the Kizilirmak basin, but also in Agirnas and Bagpinar, where these artifacts were found.
Buyukkilic said that the National Garden project continues, and that they will add the Mimar Sinan Museum, the City Museum, the Culinary Arts Center and the Museum, as well as a food and beverage venue to the 1 million 260 thousand square meter national garden. He stated that besides being the center of trade and industry, Kayseri continues to be the center of health tourism and gastronomy center with its historical texture.
President Buyukkilic emphasized that with this project, the aim is to preserve the 60-year-old artifact of the Republican era, to give this museum a function, and to realize the most important of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Millet Kiraathanesi project.
Mehmet Ozhaseki, Deputy Chairman of the AK Party and Chairman of Local Administrations, wishing that it will provide a great work and return in terms of tourism, “If culture, art and aesthetics are started to be considered in a city, if these concerns are started, if museums are started to be built, we can say that that city is a developed and developed city.” Saying that there has been a silent revolution in Turkey for 20 years, Ozhaseki said, “We have done a lot of work, we have to do it, we should do more from now on. We will continue just like this. We care about the politics of the work, we will produce the work. I would like to thank my esteemed president and professors.”
Kayseri Governor Sehmus Gunaydin stated that they attach great importance to building the Paleontology Museum together with the Millet Kiraathanesi, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attaches great importance to. Governor Gunaydin said that Kayseri is a city rich enough to build not only 6 but also 60 museums. After the speeches, the first foundation of the project, whose approximate cost will be ₺17 million, was laid, accompanied by prayers, by pressing the button.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz