Hasankeyf is a town situated in the Southeastern Region of Turkey and which is declared as Natural Consevation Area in 1981. The history of city dates back to 10000 years. Hasankeyf has taken a role as the capital for some big civilizations such Artuqids and Ayyubids. Hasankeyf, civilized along the Tigris river, coming from the North to the East, was also an economically developed place, because the main part of trade in the past was being carried out on the river.
With the invasion of the Mongolians in 1232, most of the city turned into a ruin, before the Ayyubids took the general control of the city. After Ayyubids recovered from the shock caused by the Mongolians, they started to rebuild Hasankeyf from the beginning of the 14th century. Today, many artistic works in Hasankeyf have the signature of Ayyubids.
Due to the social acts organised by NGOs and artists, the construction of Ilā±su Dam has been delayed for years; but according to the latest decision made by Turkish Government aiming to get more energy, it will be constructed and when it is done, most places in Hasankeyf will go under water. Hasankeyf is a place including most of the criterias of UNESCO. However, it is not in the list of World Heritage, because the applications must be done directly by the states. Over 200 houses of people live in Hasankeyf today. The government has constructed new apartments for the people close to the area they have been living which is called TOKI, in order to make them move in, when their present homes go under water. Even though the people aren't eager to live in the apartments made by the government, they don't have much to do.
