The Manazan Caves are located within the boundaries of Taşkale town in Karaman Province, in a limestone area north of the Yeşildere Valley. They consist of five-story communal dwellings carved entirely by human hands into a high rock mass. The first two floors comprise numerous cell-like chambers. The other floors, carved into the central high rock mass, are locally known as Kumkale, At Meydanı (Horse Square), and Ölüler Meydanı (Square of the Dead).
Access to the upper floors is via narrow corridors and shafts. Each floor has large galleries in the center, and cell-like chambers opening onto these galleries. Numerous burial chambers and two chapels have been identified in the first two floors. Furthermore, many body parts have been found in the uppermost gallery, known as Ölüler Meydanı (Square of the Dead)
A female corpse dating to the Byzantine period, recovered from this site, is on display at the Karaman Museum. The high clay content of the limestone in the Manazan Caves allows for the maintenance of stable temperature and humidity, thus delaying the decomposition of organic matter. The caves were likely carved and used for security reasons as well as for these temperature and humidity-regulating properties.
Historical
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