Beneath our feet lies a story etched in stone over millennia. We are standing at the entrance to Yarımburgaz Cave. This isn’t just any cave. Yarımburgaz Cave is a portal to the past, a place where the echoes of ancient lives resonate.
Yarımburgaz Cave is located about 20 km west of Istanbul. It’s a little north of Lake Küçükçekmece. The cave’s story begins with its formation. A subterranean river carved it out of ancient limestone. There are two entrances to Yarımburgaz Cave. The lower one sits at 11.5 meters above sea level. The upper entrance is about 7 meters higher. The lower cave stretches for 500 meters. The upper cave is shorter at only 52 meters. A passage connects both caves about 25 meters inside.
Imagine early humans seeking shelter here. Archaeological finds confirm human habitation dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. That’s the Stone Age. Settlements continued through the Chalcolithic period. That’s the Bronze Age.
Yarımburgaz Cave wasn’t just a home for humans. Bones of various animals have been discovered here. There were herbivores like cave bears, horses, and deer. Carnivores roamed here too. Wolves, foxes, and even tigers left their remains. Over 5000 fossil bones and teeth of cave bears were found. Scientists have studied these extensively. They provide valuable chronological clues. Fossils of Middle Pleistocene bats were also found.
But the story of Yarımburgaz Cave doesn’t end in prehistoric times. During the Byzantine era, people carved a cave-church into the upper cave’s walls. A monastery was built outside its mouth. These changes unfortunately destroyed some prehistoric material. However, some artifacts survived.
Sadly, Yarımburgaz Cave has suffered damage in recent decades. After scientific publications in the 1990s, the cave became popular. Treasure hunters and illegal explorers came. The cave was closed with iron gates in the 1980s during excavations. Neglect led to the gates falling into disrepair. The cave became a shelter for drug users. Graffiti now covers the walls.
Even worse, there was an attempt to create a mushroom farm inside Yarımburgaz Cave. The cave’s mouth was enlarged to allow a grader to level the ground. The cave has also been used in filmmaking. A pool was built and detonated with explosives for a science fiction movie. For a comedy series, fire was set to depict hell. Historical frescos were scratched off for another series.
In 2001, Yarımburgaz Cave was declared an archaeological-nature reserve. It is a protected cultural property. Despite this, its protection is still neglected. Yarımburgaz Cave stands as a reminder. It shows the importance of preserving our past. It highlights the impact of human actions on historical sites. Some artifacts from Yarımburgaz Cave are in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums. They offer a glimpse into this cave’s rich history. As we leave Yarımburgaz Cave, let’s carry its story with us. Let’s remember the importance of protecting our shared heritage.