Karain Cave () is a Paleolithic archaeological site located at Yağca Village northwest of Antalya city in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.
Overview
The Karain prehistoric site is situated above sea level and about above the eastern slope of Sam Dağı Mountain (
Mount Katran), where the western
Taurus Mountains limestone zone borders on the
Travertine Plain. Karain is a complex of caves that consists of three main chambers and corridors, separated by calcite walls, narrow curves and passageways. Halls and galleries contain
.
Occupation
A fragment of a
Neanderthal cranium discovered and dated confirms human habitation since the early
Paleolithic age between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.
[*XVIII. International symposium on excavation, research and archaeometry, The importance of Anatolian Paleolithic under the light of 1985-1995 Karain excavations, Dr. Kadriye Özçelik, Işın Yalçınkaya et al. (27 May 1996)][*XXVI. International symposium on excavation, research and archaeometry, 2003 Karain excavations, Dr. Kadriye Özçelik, Işın Yalçınkaya et al. (24 May 2004)] Researchers documented the continuity of human presence in the cave for a period of more than 25,000 years, from the
Mesolithic, through the
Neolithic and the
Chalcolithic, to the
Bronze Age. It is assumed that during the time of
Ionia (
Iron Age), the cave had a religious function, as Greek inscriptions and decorations suggest, that are carved into the rock in front of the entrance.
Artifacts
Paleolithic and Neolithic flint blades, scrapers and arrowheads, some made in Levallois technique were discovered. In the subsequent layers lithic figurines and bone sculptures have been found, that suggest relations to the nearby
Hacilar. The attention of researchers was especially drawn to the carving of a human face, stylistically similar to the products of the
Natufian culture which flourished in the
Levant during the Mesolithic period. This discovery may corroborate a commercial relationship of the population of southern Asia Minor and Palestine.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations hosts an extensive collection of Karain artifacts.
External links
