Archaeological excavation works have started in Çobankale in the year 2024

The archaeological excavations of the year 2024 started at Çobankale in Altınova district of Yalova, where the first historical ‘hashtag’ symbol was found among the findings. The season opening program was held at Çobankale Excavation House located in Ayazma village, a sub-district of Altınova. The program was attended by Yalova Governor Hülya Kaya, Altınova Mayor Yasemin Fazlaca, and local protocol. During the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Seçkin, a faculty member at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and the Head of Çobankale Excavation, made a presentation about the excavations. Governor Hülya Kaya emphasized that the historical site, dating back to the 9th to 14th centuries, is within the borders of Yalova and plays a significant role in shedding light on history, especially for Yalova. She stated that Yalova has a deep-rooted history dating back even before recorded history, with important battles taking place during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods at this unique location within Yalova’s borders. She mentioned that the data obtained from the excavations demonstrates the ancient history of Yalova, and efforts are being made to enhance the recognition of these works internationally and in Turkey.
Governor Kaya highlighted that all data obtained from the excavation works has already been transformed into international publications. She continued by stating that 22 articles have been published in this field so far. Efforts are ongoing to restore the site to its ancient form and reopen it as a fortress, with project studies in progress. Once the project is tendered, the site is expected to welcome visitors within a short period of about 2 years. Excited about the prospects, local authorities are looking forward to showcasing Yalova’s significant historical position.
Excavation Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Seçkin emphasized the importance of Çobankale in Turkish and world history, stating that it strategically located on the route between Istanbul and Iznik. He mentioned that the excavation works began in 2017 with cleaning activities, followed by drilling and continuous excavation since 2020. The opening of all walls and restoration works within the fortress have been completed so far. Work inside the fortress will continue from 2024 onwards. The discovery of the fortress entrance gate was a significant find for the team. Numerous small artifacts were found, published in Turkey’s leading indexed journals and even in world-renowned magazines, providing important results for the scientific community.
Altınova Mayor Yasemin Fazlaca expressed the municipality’s commitment to supporting the ongoing work. She emphasized the importance of opening the fortress to tourism, believing that the combination of history and nature will greatly benefit tourism once the fortress stands tall, as it previously held value mainly in terms of nature but lacked visibility in terms of history.