Karain Mağarası | |
 entrance to Karain Cave | |
  Location in Turkey | |
| Alternative name | Black Cave |
|---|---|
| Location | Antalya, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 37°4′40″N30°34′15″E / 37.07778°N 30.57083°E /37.07778; 30.57083 |
| Type | karst |
| History | |
| Periods | Paleolithic toIron Age |
| Associated with | Neanderthals, Homo sapiens |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1946 to 1958, 1967 to 1973, 1985 to 2008 |
| Archaeologists | Isin Yalcinkaya, İsmail Kılıç Kökten |
| Public access | no |
Karain Cave (Turkish:Karain Mağarası) is aPaleolithic archaeological site located atYağca Village 27 km (17 mi) northwest ofAntalya city in theMediterranean region ofTurkey.
The Karain prehistoric site is situated 430 m (1,410 ft) above sea level and about 80 m (260 ft) above the eastern slope ofSam Dağı Mountain (Mount Katran), where the westernTaurus Mountainscalcareous zone borders on theTravertine 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 containspeleothems.[1]
A fragment of aNeanderthal cranium discovered and dated confirms human habitation since the earlyPaleolithic age between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago.[2][3] Researchers documented the continuity of human presence in the cave for a period of more than 25,000 years, from theMesolithic, through theNeolithic and theChalcolithic, to theBronze Age. It is assumed that during the time ofGreek colonization of Asia Minor (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.[4]
Paleolithic and Neolithic flint blades, scrapers and arrowheads, some made inLevallois technique were discovered. In the subsequent layers lithic figurines and bone sculptures have been found, that suggest relations to the nearbyHacilar culture. The attention of researchers was especially drawn to the carving of a human face, stylistically similar to the products of theNatufian culture which flourished in theLevant during the Mesolithic period. This discovery may corroborate a commercial relationship of the population of southern Asia Minor and Palestine.[4]
TheMuseum of Anatolian Civilizations hosts an extensive collection of Karain artifacts.
