The 7,5 million-year-old fossils, which were found during scientific excavations around the Yamula Dam and attracted the attention of the world, were restored with the support of the Metropolitan Municipality and opened to visitors in the exhibition held in the foyer area of the Metropolitan Municipality.
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç stated that they shed light on the geological history of the world from Kayseri, and explained that the 7.5 million-year-old intact fossil, which scientists identified as "Choerolophodon" and described as the "Ancestor of Elephants", attracted attention as the first and only example in the world.
President Dr., who protects the historical and cultural heritage as well as the natural beauties of the ancient city, makes significant investments in this field and strongly supports the scientific studies carried out. Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, under the management of Memduh Büyükkılıç, organized the "Lost Fauna" Documentary Launch and Art Exhibition within the scope of the revival efforts of the 7,5 million-year-old fossil fauna, which sheds light on the geological history of the world.
Fossils and replicas of species from the three-toed horses, proboscis, hollow-horned and giraffe families, unearthed during excavations supported by the Metropolitan Municipality, were opened to citizens.
The exhibition in the foyer area of the Metropolitan Municipality started to welcome its visitors with the "Lost Fauna" Documentary Launch and Painting Exhibition Opening Ceremony held in the Assembly Hall.
The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, attended by Metropolitan Mayor Dr. In addition to Memduh Büyükkılıç, AK Party Kayseri Deputy Mr. Bayar Özsoy, Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums Deputy General Manager Bülent Gönültaş, Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Şükrü Dursun, Cappadocia Paleontology Research Association President and Yamula Excavation Scientific Committee Member Hacı Bayram Veli University Anthropology Department Head Prof. Dr. Okşan Başoğlu, Scientific Advisor of the Excavation Committee Prof. Dr. Pınar Gözlük Kırmızıoğlu, Head of Kültepe Kaniş-Karum Mound Excavations Prof. Dr. Fikri Kulakoğlu, Kayseri Archeology Museum Director Gökhan Yıldız, Documentary Producer and Presenter Biologist Rıfat Çığ, Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Hüseyin Beyhan, Deputy General Secretaries, department heads, excavation committee and press members attended.
Speaking at the "Lost Fauna" Documentary Launch, Mayor Büyükkılıç thanked those who contributed to the study and said, "You will also appreciate that Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality is important in terms of taking part in cultural context, tourism context, social studies and sports activities. "I would like to remind you that we are currently continuing our support for excavations in 6 different regions," he said.
In his speech, Büyükkılıç also touched upon the scientific studies carried out in different parts of the ancient city and said:
“While we also remind that there are important excavations in our region regarding the work done on the Keykubadiye Palace, the Kızık Pavilion, the cemetery of His Holiness Seyyid Burhaneddin, and of course the work done in Örenşehir and Kültepe Kaniş-Karum regarding the mosaics we have done in the İncesu region. You are already following. To crown this, hopefully, our deputy general manager is here, while thanking them for their presence, the museum work we will do on this subject, which is 3 thousand 500 square meters underground, is a work done in this area, and this is also an important work that will make a name for itself on a national and international basis. “I would like to remind you that this is a study.”
BÜYÜKKILIÇ, “WE CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT COOPERATION”
Mayor Büyükkılıç stated that they attach great importance to Kayseri making a name for itself both nationally and internationally in the scientific context, and that they have carried out many studies on this subject. Mayor Büyükkılıç noted that they attach great importance to cooperation for the city and said, “We attach great importance to cooperation. We want our city to be mentioned in a positive scientific context both nationally and internationally. In that respect, we strive to share this city in a positive way, by joining hands with our esteemed governor, regardless of the institution or organization, without avoiding any sacrifice. While a Soğanlı Valley makes a name for itself, a Kapuzbaşı Waterfall makes a name for itself, a Sultan Marshes is a must for us, and again, as we said, Kültepe or other works. "We are sharing together here a work that really made a name for itself both nationally and internationally when it came to light," he said.
BÜYÜKKILIÇ said, “I would like to THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED. I CONGRATULATE MY TEACHERS ONCE AGAIN
Stating that they attach great importance to contributing to cultural studies in Turkey, Büyükkılıç thanked everyone who contributed and continued his speech as follows: “
I congratulate my teachers once again. We consider it a worship to serve our city by saying that it is not our job to do anything, every job is our job. We attach importance to contributing to the cultural studies of our country. He shares that we will show the will to be worthy of the trust of our Ministry of Culture in these works. I offer love and respect to all of you. Thanks. Be present. May God be with you."
Bülent Gönültaş, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stated that he was happy to attend the opening of the Lost Fauna Documentary Promotion and Painting Exhibition and said, “Many fossil remains were unearthed during the Yamula Dam excavations, which started as a rescue excavation and are still ongoing. Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Dr., for the promotion of the scientific data unearthed in the Yamula Dam excavations. With the support of Memduh Büyükkılıç, Prof. Dr. Pınar Gözlük Kırmızıoğlu, Prof. Dr. Okşan Başoğlu and Prof. Dr. "I offer my greetings to everyone who contributed to the Lost Fauna Documentary and the painting exhibition prepared by the scientific committee chaired by Cesur Pehlivan," he said.
President of the Cappadocia Paleontology Research Association and Yamula Excavation Scientific Committee Member, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. In his speech at the "Lost Fauna" documentary launch and painting exhibition opening program, Okşan Başoğlu gave information about the excavation and construction works carried out since 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Metropolitan Municipality, and the activities of the association.
Başoğlu emphasized that the Yamula region, which he described as the largest fossil bed in Anatolia, is a rich locality containing unique and unique examples in the world. Prof. stated that work continues in the region where there are magnificent, well-preserved examples. Dr. Başoğlu, Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Stating that a paleontology museum was established under the leadership of Memduh Büyükkılıç, he said that such a museum was their dream and that they were impatiently waiting for it to come to life. Lastly, Başoğlu stated that the most important part of the work, the recovery of fossils, was carried out and that the work was carried out with the support of the Metropolitan Municipality. Başoğlu ended his speech by thanking everyone, especially the Metropolitan Municipality.
Following the speeches, the "Lost Fauna" Documentary prepared by Documentary Producer and Presenter Biologist Rıfat Çığ, describing the excavations and findings, was shown.
After the launch, Mayor Büyükkılıç and the participants went to the foyer area and visited the 7,5 million-year-old fossils and painting exhibition with interest.
Making a statement here after the exhibition tour, Büyükkılıç said, “First of all, I would like to thank our Deputy General Manager, our teachers and the team once again. We listened theoretically inside, and here we watch the work done in a visual context on site. I would like to share the geomorphological and paleontological evaluation of Kayseri so that history will be made again. An approach that brings our city to the fore in the scientific context is being demonstrated at the international level; "I would also like to share that scientists from America, Germany and Finland add value to Kayseri by monitoring these studies in Kayseri," he said.
“WE PRESENT THE RICHNESS OF KAYSERİ TO PEOPLE'S INFORMATION”
Mayor Büyükkılıç thanked those who contributed and said:
“I hope that when we complete our museum, by exhibiting the originals there, Kayseri will be remembered as a unique city that makes a name for itself in this field. I thank those who contributed. All of these are a wealth for Kayseri. We present these riches to people for both their knowledge and pleasure. “I would like to thank this distinguished team that adds value to our Kayseri and wish them good luck in their work.”
Hacı Bayram Veli University Anthropology Department Head Prof. Dr. Okşan Başoğlu also stated that they were very happy and proud and said that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. He stated that they produced good work with the support of Memduh Büyükkılıç.
While the efforts to revive the 7,5 million-year-old fossil fauna, to which Mayor Büyükkılıç attaches special importance and which he thinks sheds light on the geological history of the world, continue with the support of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, the fossils found in the studies are presented to the citizens.
In the exhibition opened in the Foyer area of the Metropolitan Municipality, fossils of many different species of living creatures unearthed since 2018, replicas obtained using these fossils, and species from the families Proboscidae, Bovidae and Giraffidae await their visitors.
The erection work, made by combining the parts of Choerolophodon, the Ancestor of Elephants, which is considered one of the most important finds and described as the first and only intact example in the world, has been completed and its replica, created with an exact mold taken from the skull, is also included in the exhibition.