Hasankeyf
Hasankeyf · Hısn Kayfa · Cephe / Kiphis · Old Hasankeyf
Assyrian to Ottoman (12th c. BCE–1920); peak Artukid–Ayyubid 12th–13th century·Assyrian → Roman → Byzantine → Artukid Kurdish → Ayyubid → Ottoman·🇹🇷 Batman Province, Southeastern Anatolia (Upper Tigris), Turkey
About
About Hasankeyf
Medieval Tigris cliff-city where 10,000 cave dwellings honeycomb 300 limestone cliffs beneath an Artukid citadel, Zeynel Bey tomb (exquisite turquoise-tiled Timurid mausoleum cut and trucked on SPMT 2 km in 2017 to escape Ilısu Dam flooding) and the 1147 Artukid bridge piers now drowned but visible in drought. Assyrian, Roman martyrium and Ayyubid palace layers cohabit the gorge; the relocated monuments form Europe's largest archaeological salvage move. Old town since 2020 lies under Ilısu Reservoir.
Why it mattersLargest cave-city on Tigris; case study in dam-threatened heritage engineering salvage.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Pre-Roman fortress stratigraphy under water
- 02How many caves are actually Bronze Age quarries vs dwellings?
Theories
- 01Tigris trade crossing explains millennial continuity at narrow gorge
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Assyrian fortress 12th c. BCE; Roman Cephe; Artukid-Ayyubid city 1101–1260 CE
- Period
- Assyrian to Ottoman (12th c. BCE–1920); peak Artukid–Ayyubid 12th–13th century
- Culture
- Assyrian → Roman → Byzantine → Artukid Kurdish → Ayyubid → Ottoman
- Builders
- Artukids (bridge, palace), Ayyubids (citadel walls), Aq Qoyunlu (Zeynel Bey tomb 1473)
- Purpose
- Tigris crossing citadel and cave-dwelling manufacturing town (silk, coins, pottery)
- Abandoned
- 2020 with reservoir filling (population moved to New Hasankeyf)
- Rediscovered
- Always known; 2006–2019 rescue excavations (TOBITAK/DSI)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1116
Artukid Old Bridge built — span 38.6 m
1473
Zeynel Bey cylindrical tomb with turquoise faience
2017
Zeynel Bey tomb transported 2 km on 256-wheel SPMT
2020
Ilısu Dam inundation submerges old town
On the ground
Structures & features
37.7144° N · 41.4111° E · 477 m · 3 mapped features
Zeynel Bey Tomb (relocated)
mausoleum1473 Aq Qoyunlu cylindrical faience tomb moved to new park
37.7150° N · 41.4125° EOld Bridge piers (submerged)
bridgeArtukid 1116 bridge limestone piers under reservoir
37.7144° N · 41.4111° EGreat Citadel cliff
citadelArtukid–Ayyubid upper fortress over cave tier
37.7165° N · 41.4100° E
Gallery