Yarımburgaz Cave
Yarımburgaz Mağarası · Yarimburgaz Mağarası · Yarimburgaz
Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Ages (c.400,000 BP–1400 CE)·Acheulean → Mousterian → Neolithic (Fikirtepe) → Byzantine·🇹🇷 Istanbul Province, Başakşehir, Marmara, Turkey
About
About Yarımburgaz Cave
Twin-level cave on Lake Küçükçekmece's north shore, 20 km W of Istanbul, excavated by Kökten, Arsebük and Howell. Lower cave yielded Acheulean bifaces (400 ka), upper cave 15+ Fikirtepe flexed burials. Byzantine monks later cut chapels, now threatened by sprawl.
Why it mattersOnly stratified Lower-to-Middle Palaeolithic near Bosphorus plus Fikirtepe burials linking Thrace to Marmara.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hiatus between Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic?
Theories
- 01Bosphorus land-bridge dispersal corridor (Arsebük)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Karst cave with Middle Pleistocene occupation c.400,000 BP
- Period
- Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Ages (c.400,000 BP–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Acheulean → Mousterian → Neolithic (Fikirtepe) → Byzantine
- Builders
- Acheulean communities
- Purpose
- Palaeolithic habitation, Neolithic burial cave, Byzantine quarry-monastery
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.400,000 BP
Acheulean biface levels
c.70,000 BP
Mousterian Neanderthal
c.6000 BCE
Fikirtepe burials in upper cave
1986
Howell/Arsebük re-excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
41.0753° N · 28.7414° E · 12 m · 3 mapped features
Yarımburgaz Cave — North sector
kilnKey sub-area of Yarımburgaz Cave (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Ages) showing Acheulean horizon
41.0746° N · 28.7408° EYarımburgaz Cave — Central mound
granaryKey sub-area of Yarımburgaz Cave (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Ages) showing Acheulean horizon
41.0754° N · 28.7414° EYarımburgaz Cave — South terrace
palaceKey sub-area of Yarımburgaz Cave (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Ages) showing Acheulean horizon
41.0762° N · 28.7420° E
Gallery