Flooded History, Flooded Lives

When The Southeastern Anatolia Project in Turkey started, the perspective was improving people’s lives through sustainable development. The Ilısu Dam is one of the 22 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project and its aim is hydroelectric power production, flood control and water storage. But the story of Hasankyf along with 52 villages where will be submerged by the end of this projects is a heartbreaking outcome. Hasankeyf has met nine out of ten criteria for Unesco’s world heritage sites. Even their solutions for keeping historical sites are not useful. In the last few years, the government’s program of so-called “monument relocation and consolidation of rocks” has seriously damaged the cultural heritage in Hasankeyf.

However, the stories of those houses in the villages, their people and the shadow of their memories over the centuries and the unique relationship they have with the mountain will be changed forever with this relocation. The right to live, the right to remember the history and keep it for the future is missing in those plans towards development. The streets, all the walls and the look in the people’s eyes are telling about something precious in danger, the Mesopotamian culture.

The interior of a building in the small town of Hasankeyf, continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, but doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
There are two villages at each side of the bridge. The new houses were built on one side, and people originally from there did not get any compensation in return for their fields. ?They took our fields to build the new houses, but they haven?t given us anything until now, because they don?t recognize us as citizens of Hasankeyf.?
A boy is swimming in a private pool near the city of Hasankeyf. This city is one of the most historical cities in Turkey. It has about 300 historical monuments. Life began in Hasankeyf about 12,000 years ago. But in the near future, all of these lives will be drowned by the Ilisu Dam.
A Kurdish woman is arranging her scarf inside her home in the ancient city of Hasankeyf. The Ilisu Dam and the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) project is a government project of the Republic of Turkey which was first considered in 1954. The construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2019. In June, the floodgates were closed in order to keep water inside. The Tigris Valley is in the ancient silk road, an area of approximately 150 km is about to be buried underwater. 12,000 years of Hasankeyf?s history, hundreds of endemic species and approximately 300 archaeological sites will be affected by the dam’s water retention, furthermore, around 100,000 people will be forced to migrate. Regarding the Ilisu Project, a total of 199 villages of Batman, Siirt, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sirnak, and Hasankeyf, will be completely submerged. Most of the population of these villages are of Kurdish and Arab origin.
A Kurdish woman is knitting at her house in the ancient city of Hasankeyf. The Ilisu Dam and the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) project is a government project of the Republic of Turkey which was first considered in 1954. The construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2019. In June, the floodgates were closed in order to keep water inside. The Tigris Valley is in the ancient silk road, an area of approximately 150 km is about to be buried underwater. 12,000 years of Hasankeyf?s history, hundreds of endemic species and approximately 300 archaeological sites will be affected by the dam’s water retention, furthermore, around 100,000 people will be forced to migrate. Regarding the Ilisu Project, a total of 199 villages of Batman, Siirt, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sirnak, and Hasankeyf, will be completely submerged. Most of the population of these villages are of Kurdish and Arab origin.
Ozlem, 17 is posing for the photographer with his gun, vest and cartridge from Oymatas village which is known as the little Hasankeyf. It’s been said in old stories that Adam and Eve were here in this district. They use their gun to protect their houses and cattles.
The interior of a building in the small town of Hasankeyf, continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, but doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
A view of a local house around Hasankeyf. This scene reminds me of people’s life. Maybe the only thing that is necessary to go on is Hope.
53 year-old Kurdish woman, Hazal, stands at her home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
18 year-old Kurdish girl, Nupel, stands at home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
22 year-old Kurdish girl, Zeliha, stands at home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
A portrait of a Kurdish girl sits on the stairs in front of her home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
59 year-old Kurdish woman, Aliye Yildiz, stands at her home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
27 year-old Kurdish woman, Ozlem, stands at her home in a village near the ancient town of Hasankeyf. Although continuously inhabited for 12,000 years, it is now doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
Among the site’s most remarkable buildings is a 15th-century cylindrical tomb. Historians says at least one-third of the old city has yet to be excavated.
A Kurdish girl is swimming in water fountain in village near to Hasankeyf that will too soon be underwater. The small town of Hasankeyf, inhabited for 12,000 years, is doomed to disappear in the months ahead under an artificial lake, as a result of the hydroelectric dam project. The dam will be Turkey’s second largest and has been built downstream of the Tigris. The town of Hasankeyf much of which will be submerged beneath 60 meters (200 feet) of water following the completion of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam, 96 Kilometers (60 miles) downstream on the Tigris River.
A shepherd drives his goats to pasture in a village doomed to disappear beneath an artificial lake as a result of the Ilisu hydroelectric dam project.
8 year-old Kurdish girl, Kumr?u, sits at home in a village? near the ancient town of Hasa?nkeyf. Although continuously ?inhabited for 12,000 years, it? is now doomed to disappear be?neath an artificial lake as a ?result of the Ilisu hydroelect?ric dam project
This is a view of the new town of Hasankeyf build by Turkey government. People of Hasankeyf must move all their livings to the new town. This transportation causes a big change in their life styles and ruin the historical identity of them.
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