Error! Displacement and loss of heritage

Hasankeyf

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Hasankeyf, located today in the Batman province of the Southeastern Anatolia region, is a historical region that has witnessed 12 thousand years of history. Locating on the Tigris River’s banks has made the Hasankeyf settlement of geographical and strategic importance. The city has become an important center connecting Northern Mesopotamia to Anatolia. It plays a vital role as the historical reflection of a region that has witnessed many civilizations. The area’s dominance, which started with the castle at the top of the mountain, was depicted with historical buildings and houses spread across the mountain’s slopes. Historical buildings and houses, as well as the landscape and nature of the region, are involved in people’s daily lives, both economically and culturally. The Ilısu dam in this region has been on the agenda since 1951. The dam, completed in 2020, flooded the entire settlement. Hasankeyf, an ancient settlement, was partially relocated and flooded due to dam construction.

 

Before it was flooded, a new settlement was built on the opposite side of the river. In this process, historical buildings were moved to the newly built settlement area by vehicles to prevent flooding or damage. However, other structures were submerged. Observing the year-to-year changes on the maps reveals abrupt shifts and destruction. The glitch technique was used to highlight these sudden displacements of buildings. This phenomenon was seen as an error.