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Kerkenes Dag is the name of a low but prominent mountain in the
centre of modern Turkey. Around 600BC it was the chosen location
for a new Iron Age capital - the largest and most impressive on
the Anatolian Plateau - most probably the Pteria of Herodotus.
In the middle of the sixth century this great city was looted
and burnt. Its 7km of strong stone walls, pierced by 7 city gates,
were thrown down and the city deserted.
At the foot of the mountain, on the sheltered south-eastern side,
nestles the friendly Anatolian village of Sahmuratli. Here an
Eco-Centre is being established to promote sustainable village
life as well as experimenting with renewably energy and the use
of appropriate materials.
Protection and promotion of Turkey's Cultural Heritage, the potential
of Kerkenes for internal and foreign tourism and the long-term
sustainability of prosperous rural life are thus being brought
together to the mutual benefit of all stakeholders - villagers,
architects, archaeologists and ecologists. These resources are
being protected and promoted for local recreation and tourism
while the broader importance of both the archaeology and the ecology
is being disseminated world-wide.
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