Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Workshop, Ancient stone workshop in Islahiye, Turkey
The quarry contains 300 stone artifacts spread across 100,000 square meters of red basalt formations at an elevation of 528 meters.
Austrian archaeologist Felix von Luschan discovered the site in 1890 during excavations at Zincirli, leading to multiple research campaigns through the 1990s.
The workshop produced numerous sphinxes with female heads and lion bodies, intended to guard the entrances of Hittite cities, palaces, and temples.
The archaeological site is accessible by road from Gaziantep, Iskenderun, or Antakya, with guided tours explaining the stone extraction techniques.
Visitors can observe sculptures in various stages of completion, demonstrating the ancient process of stone splitting using wooden wedges and water.
Location: Gaziantep Province
Location: İslahiye
GPS coordinates: 36.90444,36.74583
Latest update: March 8, 2025 16:26
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