History of Diyarbakır

Diyarbakir maintained its importance throughout history mainly for its location where various civilizations flourishing in Upper Mesopotamia met and interacted. In 1946, excavations carried out in Bismil, Silvan and Ergani by the Turkish History Institution yielded some flint stone apparatus dating back to the Paleolithic age. Finds from excavations carried out in Çayönü tumulus, on the other hand, testifies inhabitation in the Neolithic age. Steles and inscriptions in Birkileyn Cave and Egil Castle belong to the Assyrians. The walls of Diyarbakir, one of the most spectacular defense structures in the world, also gives clues about the historical past of the city.

The province of Diyarbakir extends over an area of 15,355 km2. Farming in the province is mostly rain-fed and there is fallowing. The population of the province is 1,364,209 according to the Census of 2000. The peripheral districts of the province are Bismil, Cinar, Cermik, Cungus, Dicle, Egil, Ergani, Hani, Hazro, Kocakoy, Kulp, Lice and Silvan.

As the second largest city in Southeastern Anatolia, Diyarbakir consists of two main settlements as the "old" and "new" city. The old part of the city is surrounded by walls. These four-gated walls are the longest and strongest of all similar structures still standing in Anatolia. Important historical buildings of the city remain within the area surrounded by walls. The new city, on the contrast to the old city which expanded more recently in a planned manner looks much more modern with its avenues, parks, houses, official buildings and hotels. The Tigris is the major river flowing through the city.

Located on a transitional zone between the mountainous Eastern Anatolia and the plains of Upper Mesopotamia, Diyarbakır was once on important trade routes and it is still at the center of the main highway network reaching such centers as Elazig, Sanliurfa, Mardin and Bitlis. Railway reached the center of the province in 1935 and then extended to Kurtalan, out of provincial boundaries. Diyarbakir also has an airport with flights to all major centers in Turkey.

Despite the dominance of agriculture and animal husbandry as main economic activities, the province has a large potential for industrial activities and it is, in fact, the second industrial center of the region after Gaziantep. As one of the provinces given first priority in development, Diyarbakir has a small industrial area. The leading industrial-commercial branches include feed production, meat and meat processing.

source: gap.gov.tr