Yeşilöz Village brings together several distinct themes: underground cities, prehistoric finds at Yeşilöz Höyük, black mulberry trees in Kale-Mevki and the photographic history of two brothers. You can therefore view the area through an archaeological, natural-history or cultural-history lens, depending on your interests. These themes represent different ways of approaching local history and can be given particular emphasis as you plan your visit.

Archaeological traces

There are underground cities in Yeşilöz. For travellers interested in this subject, they are a distinctive archaeological landmark. If you are planning a specific visit, check in advance whether access is available to visitors.

Yeşilöz Höyük is another archaeological point of interest. Prehistoric pottery and flint finds were discovered there during surface surveys. This brings specific material finds into focus alongside the underground cities. As you plan your trip, you can consider the two themes separately: Yeşilöz is associated with underground cities, while Yeşilöz Höyük is characterised by pottery and flint finds. This distinction helps keep the archaeological focus from narrowing to a single theme.

Mulberry trees in Kale-Mevki and the surrounding area

A black mulberry tree in Yeşilöz’s Kale-Mevki is protected as a natural monument. Its registration was completed in 2001, and its age is given as 2,600 years. Seven black mulberry trees (Morus nigra L.) are listed for Kale-Mevki. The history of the trees can thus be considered on two levels: an individual protected tree with a stated age, and the tree species in the locality. For travellers interested in natural and cultural heritage, this is a different focus from the archaeological themes.

A study judged the route to the registered black mulberry tree in Kale-Mevki to be dangerous. As road conditions can change, check the current situation before travelling there.

Another black mulberry tree is located at Cemel Höyük, 4.5 km northwest of Yeşilöz. It is estimated to be 2,600 years old. The same age is given for both trees, but with a different qualification: the age of the tree in Kale-Mevki is stated, while that of the tree at Cemel Höyük is estimated. The locations also distinguish them: one is in Yeşilöz’s Kale-Mevki, while the other is at Cemel Höyük outside the village.

The history of photography

The brothers Hayri and Mehmet Şahin, who came from Yeşilöz, began working as photography apprentices in a studio in Ankara in 1940. They later opened their own studio. This sequence offers a way to trace local cultural history through specific people: their origins in Yeşilöz, the beginning of their careers in Ankara and their later step of opening their own studio. This biographical perspective adds to the archaeological and natural-history themes. If you are interested in photography, the focus here is on the two brothers and their professional journey.

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For the main travel overview: Nevşehir.