Girmeler Cave
Girmeler Mağarası · Seydikemer Girmeler
Epipalaeolithic to Early Chalcolithic (c.14,000–5500 BCE)·Anatolian Epipalaeolithic → Aceramic Neolithic → Chalcolithic·🇹🇷 Muğla Province, Seydikemer, Lycia, Turkey
About
About Girmeler Cave
Karst cave on the Lycian plateau above Fethiye (Seydikemer) with 14,000-year stratified sequence from Epipalaeolithic hunter burials to Aceramic Neolithic caprine herding, overlapping the Höyücek seed-crop horizon 5 km away. Excavated since 2011 by Taner Korkut, brecciated burials, microliths, marine shells and early Fikirtepe-influenced pottery trace the forager-to-farmer transition on the Turquoise Coast.
Why it mattersLongest Epipalaeolithic-Neolithic sequence in Lycia bridging coastal foragers to Central Anatolian farmers.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why maintain cave after Höyücek open village founded?
Theories
- 01Transhumance base vs year-round village (Takaoğlu)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural karst cave occupied c.14,000 BCE
- Period
- Epipalaeolithic to Early Chalcolithic (c.14,000–5500 BCE)
- Culture
- Anatolian Epipalaeolithic → Aceramic Neolithic → Chalcolithic
- Builders
- Anatolian Epipalaeolithic communities
- Purpose
- Seasonal hunting shelter then sedentary cave village with burials
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.14,000 BCE
Epipalaeolithic hunter shelter with burials
c.8500 BCE
Aceramic Neolithic caprine penning starts
c.6500 BCE
Painted Fikirtepe ware in terrace
2011
Korkut excavations expose 8 m stratigraphy
On the ground
Structures & features
36.5856° N · 29.3807° E · 350 m · 3 mapped features
Girmeler Cave — South terrace
cemeteryKey sub-area of Girmeler Cave (Epipalaeolithic to Early Chalcolithic) showing Anatolian Epipalaeolithic horizon
36.5850° N · 29.3803° EGirmeler Cave — East gate
templeKey sub-area of Girmeler Cave (Epipalaeolithic to Early Chalcolithic) showing Anatolian Epipalaeolithic horizon
36.5858° N · 29.3809° EGirmeler Cave — West workshop
fortificationKey sub-area of Girmeler Cave (Epipalaeolithic to Early Chalcolithic) showing Anatolian Epipalaeolithic horizon
36.5866° N · 29.3815° E