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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Birkleyn |
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Type:
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Cave |
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Altitude:
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m |
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Region:
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Eastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Diyarbakir |
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District:
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Lice |
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Village:
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Örtülü |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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| Birkleyn caves are located west of Örtülü Village; 25 km north of Lice District of Diyarbakir Province. Close to the caves; passes the Diyarbakir-Bingöl highway. The cave system is located in canyon that is parallel to the mountain chain under which the river Dipni; an eastern tributary of the river Tigris lies. The cave systems are the result of the tectonic movements of the Arabic and Eurasian plates; whose edges cross the area of the Birkleyn caves from north-east to south-west. The caves are also known as Iskender-i Birklin and published in the Cave Inventory of Turkey with this name. Assyrian reliefs and inscriptions were discovered in 1862 and the most detailed study of them is still that based on the visit of C. Lehmann-Haupt and W. Belck in 1898/99. The aim of the current project was a complete documentation of the Assyrian reliefs and inscriptions (Cave I and II); as well as the survey of all existing archaeological remains in the vicinity. Cave III has a length of approximately 450-500 m. It is situated in the north flank of the canyon; approximately 50 m above the cave II. Starting from two smaller halls with openings in the north cliff of the canyon; it runs north-east; through narrow passages and fissures which broaden up into larger halls. Unlike in the other caves an impressive number of stalagmites and stalactites was observed. In both entrance halls as well as in the inner caves evidence of human occupation could be detected. The discovery of neolithic Hassuna-Samarra pottery in the entrance halls; which open towards the canyon; suggests that they may have been used seasonally. The cave itself could not be used as a living space due to the low temperatures and high humidity; hence the Iron Age pottery and other archaeological remains of this period and more recent pottery may indicate a different use. Cave IV is located on the north side of the slope above the entrance to the Dibni Çay tunnel beneath the eastern end of the canyon. It consists of two vast central halls which are connected to passages and fissures leading further inside the mountain. As pottery has been found only in the two central halls probably only these were inhabited. The pottery was collected mainly from the illegal diggings and can be dated to the neolithic Hassuna-Samarra period; as well as to the Iron Age and medieval times. During the survey performed by A. Schachner in 2004 it was found that the cave nr II was used starting with Late Neolithic Age, and painted Hassuna sherds and obsidian tools were collected inside the cave number III which consists of two sections. The painted sherds collectecd inside the cave number IV belong to Hassuna-Sammarra group The cave was used during Late Neolithic Age [Schachner 2005:371-373]. During the A. Schahner survey in 2004 it was found that the cave II was used starting in Late Neolithic Age and the cave number III that consisted of two halls contained painted Hassuna sherds and obsidian tool fragments. The painted sherds collected in cave IV belong to Hassuna-Sammarra group but the cave was identified to be used during Late Neolithic Age [Schachner 2005:371-373]. It is listed in the registered archaeological sites inventory prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. |
| Location: It is located at the cross of the Birkilin Brook and the Diyarbakir-Bingöl motorway; to the west of Lice. |
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