Abstract:

In terms of its settlement history, Şanlıurfa is one of the oldest cities in Turkey. Archaeological investigations have proved that the city’s settlement history goes back to Neolotic period. Therefore the history if the city goes back to 11000 years before present. The city used to be called Yenimahalle settlement as the city was initially founded in the vicinity of Yenimahalle. Investigations have so far proved that initial location for the foundation was the Tılfındır Hill which is in the north Balıklı Lake. It is believed that the physical geographical factors played important roles in the selection of this particular location. These factors are mainly; water, security, existence of fertile agricultural lands, natural shelter, existence of suitable fauna and flora for hunting and also for other primitive needs, existence of paleolithic population and also the climate which had indirect influence on all these factors. When this initial location is examined in detail it would be easy to determine that these location comprises most of the natural factors mentioned above

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