Located between Catak in Van and Beytüssebap in Sirnak, Sheikh Curuh C**e is home to a variety of archaeological features such as stalactites, stalagmites and habitat of the endangered yellow-spotted salamander.
Home to the endangered yellow-spotted salamander, Sheikh Kurukh Cave is a three-storey, eight-room dwelling carved into the rock of Gevas in the Katak district of Van in eastern Turkey, attracting nature and archaeology enthusiasts.
Located 2 km from the Katak River, the cave is 200 meters long, 20 meters wide and 25 meters high, and is inhabited by the endangered spotted salamander.
After about half an hour of climbing, climbers and nature lovers can witness stalactites, stalagmites, and spotted salamanders in the cave. Many nature lovers come to this cave every year, located 130 kilometers from the city center, to observe spotted salamanders.
Deep in the cave
Omer Demez, president of the Valley Nature Sports Club, told Anadolu news agency that mountaineering and caving activities are becoming increasingly popular in the region.
Demez, who has been mountaineering in the area for many years, explains: "We discovered this place many years ago. There are many stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave, and the main attraction is the water inside the cave, which contains the endangered spotted salamander. It has become a popular spot for climbers, who will witness these rare creatures here, and we will work together to protect them. ”
I have about 3Mahmut Celik, a climber with 5 years of experience, told the Anadolu news agency: "I came to this cave specifically to see the rare yellow-spotted salamander, because there are so many species of salamanders, they thrive in humid environments. ”
Baris Turgut, a mountain instructor, said: "We started from the Katak River and walked half an hour to get here. The entrance to the cave is very fascinating, leading to a large and deep cave. The cave is home to bats and a variety of birds, as well as a frequent stop for wild goats. Stalactites and stalagmites dot the depths of the cave. All nature lovers are welcome to visit. ”
Wall inscriptions
At an altitude of 2,150 meters above sea level, in the hilly area of Kvas Bagrama, there is a living area carved into the main rock, known as the "Ukpinar Rock Church", which attracts archaeology enthusiasts and nature lovers.
In this living quarter, there is an inconspicuous narrow entrance, carved staircase, spacious rooms, a stove, a pantry, niches and inscriptions on the walls.
Strategically located overlooking Lake Van and considered a medieval settlement, it is visited by many archaeology enthusiasts and nature lovers every year.
Rafet C**Usoglu, head of the Department of Archaeology at Yuzuncu Yil University, mentioned the fascinating historical sites in the area.
"The remains show the importance of the cave as a medieval settlement – three-storey rock dwellings with stepped living quarters," Kaftsoglu mentions. The top floor may be the administrative residence, and the ground floor is the residence of the community. The interconnected second and third floors have a total of eight rooms, including a pantry and a stove. A number of niches indicate that this residential area was often used. ”
Kaftsoglu said they had not encountered a similar site in their surface surveys.
He stressed that it is a site registered in the Inventory of Cultural Assets, well preserved due to its inaccessibility, which he believes is essential for tourism to give a glimpse of the various architectural features of similar houses.
Despite being mistaken for a rock tomb by the Urals, he emphasized that the site has only one entrance and displays pottery both inside and outside the residential area.
These remains show the importance of the cave as a medieval settlement.