The Archaeology Summer School continues with cultural and historical trips in Gaziantep with support from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration.

The Archaeology Summer School participants listened to the stories of the mosaics on display at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which fascinates the visitors with its valuable articles, and they showed intense interest in the bronze Ares (Mars) Statue and the Gypsy Girl mosaic among the museum's collections. The participants received detailed information on the period and historical background of each work, and they have been mesmerized by the "Gypsy Girl," an icon of Zeugma.

In the city having a rich heritage due to its location on the Silk Road, the participants toured around the bazaars and inns and witnessed how handcrafted products were made at the Bazaar of Coppersmiths.

Following the museum visit and city tour, the participants tasted the local dishes in this city of gastronomy whose 6000-year-old culinary heritage is internationally acclaimed.

Sheno Roy, a participant attending the Archaeology Summer School came from India, expressed his impressions as follows:

"This is my first visit to Turkey. I am glad to be here with the Archaeology Summer School. I would like to thank Yunus Emre Institute for hosting us here. I have fantastic time. It is a great experience for me to be in Gaziantep because I have visited a mosaic museum for the first time and I was very enthusiastic about the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. I was impressed with the mosaics I saw as each of them was a unique piece of art. It was mesmerizing to see the Gypsy Girl mosaic, illuminated in a dark room, at the final stage of our museum tour. After the visit in the museum, we started to tour around the city and it made me happy to see the traditional bazaars. In particular, it was great to see the handcrafted articles in the Bazaar of Coppersmiths. I am glad to have an opportunity to see the process of how these copper articles are produced. The people of Gaziantep welcome us with smiling faces; all of them are warm and friendly.  There are unique spices, pistachios and desserts in each street. In particular, I will always remember the taste of the magnificent katmer dessert. I thank Yunus Emre Institute for these unforgettable memories."

The Archaeology Summer School participants will visit Şanlıurfa, Ankara, and Çorum before the closing ceremony in Istanbul.