Editing Batman, Turkey (section)

=== Early history ===
The Batman Province contains the strategic Tigris River with fertile lands by its sides, as well as rocky hills with numerous caves providing a natural shelter. As a result, it was inhabited from prehistoric times, likely from the [[Neolithic]] ([[Paleolithic]]){{Contradict-inline|date=November 2022}} period, according to archeological evidence. First documented evidence of settlements in the province dates back to the 7th century BC. An artificial "island" was created in this marshy area, which was named ''elekhan'' and stood independent for 194 years from 546 BC until the invasion of [[Alexander the Great]] in 352 BC. The Batman Province was a religious center in the 4th–6th centuries AD and was part of the [[Byzantine Empire]] for seven centuries. In the 11th–12th centuries became under the control of the [[Great Seljuq Empire]] and [[Artuqids]] and became a prominent outpost of the [[Silk Road]]. This area was populated by [[Assyrian people|Syriac Christians]] and had a significant presence of [[Pontic Greeks]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], [[Baghdadi Jews]] and [[Armenians]]; these peoples lived in the region from 500 BC to the late 19th century. Significant changes in its management and language were brought in 1515 by Mahmoud Pasha Elekhani. It is believed that a variant of his name, ''Elah'', was transformed into ''Iluh'' and gave the old name to the Batman city.<ref name="r1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110310074232/http://www.gap.gov.tr/gap-provinces/batman Batman], gap.gov.tr</ref><ref name="g3">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111223064222/http://www.kultur.gov.tr/TR/belge/1-33025/tarihce.html Batman. Tarihçe], kultur.gov.tr, 21 February 2007 (in Turkish)</ref>