Mersin Metropolitan Municipality continues its projects for the protection, promotion and transfer of cultural and natural heritage to future generations. Restoration and landscaping activities were carried out in the protection area of the "Tarsus Sarıulak Olive Memorial Tree" located in the Karadiken District of Tarsus, within the scope of the "Olive is the First of All Trees Project" carried out by Mersin Metropolitan Municipality in cooperation with the Tarsus Commodity Exchange.
In the research, it was determined that he was 820 years old.
In 2018, upon the application of the Tarsus Commodity Exchange, it was determined that the oldest tree was the monumental tree in the Karadiken District, in the region-wide study on the Tarsus Sarıulak Olive, whose origin was registered as geographical indication. Within the scope of the project, as a result of the examination made with the decision of Mersin Regional Commission for the Protection of Natural Heritage and the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, it was determined that the monumental olive tree is approximately 820 years old.
Cleaning and landscaping done
Within the framework of the project, the area, which was in a very bad condition in the area where the monument tree is located, was completely cleaned by the teams of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. In addition to paving the cobblestones and building a stone wall, restoration and landscaping were carried out in the old and ruined stone building next to the tree and the destroyed water well.
Karadiken Neighborhood Headman Ali Aşık emphasized that there was a coffee shop right next to the monumental olive tree many years ago, and said, “When we researched this yellow-eared olive tree, we learned that there is a 600-year-old olive tree of the same species in Rome, Italy. Then we applied for this tree. The friends who came did their registration. They determined that the tree is 820 years old,” he said.
Stating that Karadiken is one of the oldest villages of Tarsus, Muhtar Aşık said, “Many tribes lived here. I would like to thank everyone who contributed, especially our Metropolitan Mayor, who carried out the landscaping, care and protection of such a historical value.”
“The interest of the metropolitan is pleasing”
Halil Çakıcı, who allowed the stone building, which is located right next to the monumental yellowtail olive tree and used as a coffee house by his grandfather, to be included in the scope of landscaping and renovation, also stated that he is satisfied with the process. Çakıcı said, “Because there was a village coffeehouse run by our grandfathers next to this yellow runner olive tree, this place was used as a gathering place.”
“It was known as the symbol of the village”
90-year-old Cumali Karaca, one of the aged residents of Karadiken District, said, “There was a grape vine here. Young people gathered here, lovers used to meet here back then. We used to wrestle, sing folk songs and dance halay here. It was the symbol of the village,” he said.
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