Mike Collins' "Shocking Film" on Archaeological Malpractice at Gobekli Tepe (VI): "Tree Busters" Seriously?

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Wandering Wolf Productions ( @WWolfProd · Apr 3) proclaims: "We went to see the trees removed and ending up walking into a hornets nest of controversy after realizing the trees may be the least of our concerns". Sic, "our" concerns... as who, precisely? 

GOBEKLI TEPE: Olive Trees Removed! Shocking Footage! (2025 Update) w/ @BrightInsight & @NikkianaJones.

The claim is that allegedly "nobody" saw a problem that olive trees had been planted across the hilltop at Gobekli Tepe. That means... the Turkish authorities, the conservation services, those projecting developing this site as a heritage attraction, the Turkish archaeologists or the foreign archaeologists they hosted at the minimum.  Allegedly, the only people "concerned" were some US-based pseudoarchaeologist YouTubers and their followers who were using this as clickbait to get engagement with their "context" and thus gain revenue from the clicks. Pre-eminent among these shitstirrers was "popular researcher, and educator" Jimmy Corsetti. Writing only in English (no Turkish posts were involved),  they created more and more of a fuss by throwing out accusations based on their "common sense" layman's approach to tree toots. Attempts were made by members of the archaeological community (and of the above-listed, it was only the English-speaking archaeologists) to address the points made and paint a more balanced picture of the issue.  These however got thrown back in their faces and their remarks were used as a basis for more attacks (including personal attacks on a number of them specifically). This may be reliable clickbait material for those exploiting this exchange financially, but hardly advancing much understanding. Then the YouTuber community learnt that the trees were being removed and immediately Corsetti was claiming that he was the one who had brought this about.  

the stage was set for this trip over the last year as my good friend Jimmy corsetti from Bright Insight blasted the archaeological community for their defense and lack of speaking out against the trees covering unexcavated areas at one of the world's oldest and most important archaeological sites. The public push back created the environment necessary to enact real change and his continued persistence demanded accountability that actually resulted in the trees being removed. So now seem like the perfect time to see the site document for ourselves how Gobekli Tepe was being excavated cared for and managed in the midst of all this change and controversy

Note the video does not actually say very much about the trees. The authors drove through a landscape covered in olive groves, they are a major element of the cultural landscape of this region. Yet the team did not film any of them pointing this out, still less explore for example an old olive press to discuss the economic role of their cultivation. 

What is notable is that there was no interview with a single Turk about this issue, for example with a representative of the heritage management authorities about the "campaign" that had allegedly brought about this "change" (for example introducing Mr Corsetti in person) or about what was being done to remove the trees without damaging the site. It was all very ad hoc, filming the activity from afar and through the fence. 

Actually, it seems the real intent had been all along  was not to ("accidentally") "walk into a hornets' nest of controversy", but to actually start up another clickbait controversy at the expense of the archaeologists and Turkish authorities now the trees issue could no longer be exploited financially.