Locals’ Attitude Towards Cultural Heritage Values: The Tumulus Tombs of Bin Tepe

Defined as the transformation of the past into the present, heritage is considered as everything that is appreciated by both current civilizations and earlier generations. Cultural heritage is our living connections to the past, based on the culture we all share. Our thoughts, identities, surroundings, and the locations we dwell are all formed through our cultural background. The entirety of material and immaterial values associated with our identity, culture, and history have been identified as our cultural heritage. Türkiye has a rich heritage of culture, both material and immaterial. Among these heritages are the tumulus tombs of Bin Tepe, which are situated in the Manisa districts of Ahmetli and Salihli and host the tombs of the Lydian civilization's kings and nobility. The tumulus tombs of Bin Tepe are necropolis located near the ancient city of Sardis. They have been listed on the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage since 2013 and maintain a significant position in terms of geomorphological structure. The study hopes to find out if the people who living in the Manisa districts of Salihli and Ahmetli consider the tumulus tombs of Bin Tepe as touristic values. It also aims to figure out what they think about the protection of this heritage, the impact of the Bin Tepeler Tumulus on agricultural lands, and the efforts made by local governments to preserve the heritage. The analysis of the study revealed that since there are no social facilities or no tourism-related activities are held in the vicinity where the tumulus tombs of Bin Tepe are located, and because the tumuli's interior isn't accessible to the public, most locals do not regard the tumuli as tourist attractions. It is advised that a more comprehensive tourism planning approach should be adopted in the area including the locals.