The historic Harran Palace in the Harran district of Şanlıurfa, southeastern Türkiye, has been officially renamed the “Harran Selahaddin Eyyubi Palace” following new archaeological findings from ongoing excavations.
The site, which is listed on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List, has been excavated for 12 years under the direction of Harran University scholar Mehmet Önal. The work is carried out with funding from Ministry of Culture and Tourism and coordination from the Şanlıurfa Governor’s Office, Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality and the Şanlıurfa Museum Directorate, with additional support from the Turkish Historical Society, Harran University and the Harran District Governorate.
Archaeological evidence
Önal told Anadolu Agency (AA) that inscriptions and archaeological remains discovered at the site demonstrate a strong connection to the Ayyubid period, particularly to Saladin.
“Based on our research and the inscriptions uncovered during excavations, it became clear that it would be more accurate to refer to the site as the Harran Selahaddin Eyyubi Palace,” Önal said. “After consultations with the district governor and relevant authorities, this decision was made. The palace was converted into a castle during the Ayyubid period. Polygonal towers surrounding the fortress, the defensive walls and the bridge connecting the city to the castle were all constructed during Saladin’s era.”
