In the name of energy production and economic advancement, Turkey has built the Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River. The dam’s reservoir will flood 100 miles of the upstream riverbanks and valleys. Despite the obvious benefits, the dam comes with serious drawbacks. The reservoir will displace thousands of people and destroy the livelihood of many. It will also flood the historic site of Hasankeyf. Situated on the Tigris River, Hasankeyf boasts thousands of years of history—from the Neolithic period (c. 9,500 B.C.E.) until the present day. During the Bronze Age, it was part of Mitanni, a Hurrian kingdom in […]
