The ‘Sustainable Tourism Planning Consultancy for Gedikkaya Hill and İn Cave’ project, prepared by our university under the Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency (BEBKA) Technical Support Project, aims to integrate the region’s historical and cultural heritage into tourism.

Led by our university’s academic staff member Prof. Dr. Deniz Sarı, the project aims to reassess the archaeological, cultural and natural heritage values of Gedikkaya Hill and İn Cave in İnhisar, whilst preserving them in line with sustainable tourism principles. The site, which offers continuous evidence of ritual use dating from the Epipalaeolithic Period—approximately 16,500 years ago—through to the Classical Age, constitutes one of the region’s most significant cultural landscapes with its multi-layered historical past.

The project seeks to develop a holistic planning approach that balances the preservation and utilisation of this rich heritage, enabling public access without compromising the archaeological site status of Gedikkaya Hill. As part of the study, the proposed ‘living excavation site’ model for the In Cave is designed to integrate scientific research processes with the visitor experience. The project will also highlight the site’s regional tourism potential, strengthening its integration with cultural tourism routes.

This comprehensive consultancy and planning initiative aims to provide local and international visitors with a high-quality, safe and educational experience; whilst placing great importance on the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations, and on supporting regional development by contributing to the growth of local economic activities.