KARS (Hurriyet) — Work is continuing at the ancient ruins of Ani, the 5,000-year-old Armenian former capital located on the Turkish-Armenian border in the eastern province of Kars, with an eye on including the site on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
Work has been continuing at Ani, which has been home to many civilizations throughout history and is today a major draw for tourists in the area, with the support of Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Ani is located 40 kilometers from the city of Kars, where tourists usually base themselves during trips to visit the remote site.
Local Culture and Tourism Director Hakan Doganay said salvage excavations in Ani would be headed this year by Pamukkale University Classical Archaeology Department Prof. Fahriye Bayram.
Doganay said projects regarding the restoration of the ancient city’s walls have now been finished, with an eye to including Ani on the UNESCO’s heritage list.
