©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project





Ballica

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Ballica
Type:
Horizontal Cave
Altitude:
1085 m
Depth:
-75 m
Length:
680 m
Region:
Black Sea
Province:
Tokat
District:
Pazar
Village:
Ballica

     


Location: It is near the Ballica Village; which is located 5 km away from the Pazar District. The entrance of the cave is on the left side of the valley which brings down the snowmelt of Akdag; located to the south. It is a touristic cave.
Structural Properties and formation : The area where the cave is located is basically within the metamorphic series of the Paleosoic era. The Upper Cretaceous aged conglomerate and the Jura Cretaceous limestones of the second geological time are represented by sandstone calcareous and ophiolitic series. The area suffered severe tectonic events. Therefore; formation of the cave can be roughly associated with these basic changes the area experienced. The entrance is from the west [Ilhan 1989:9-10]. It covers an area of 6500 square meters. It has two galleries; where the first one was formed as a result of tectonic movements. The second gallery has characteristic of a downward slope; which makes it distinct from the other caves. The entire cave has been adorned by beautiful decorations; for example; stalactites including curtains; dripstones; helictites; parachute-like; onion-like and leek-like decorations. There are; also; stalagmites; columns; lakes and cave pearls; which are particularly intense in the lake of the Büyükdamlatas Hall [Canik et al. 1999:35].
Research History: The traverse and mapping of the cave were started in 1992 and completed in 1995. The mapping was initiated by MAD in 1992; and completed by MTA in 1994. It takes place in the registered archaeological sites list prepared by Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Findings: Thick guano deposits indicate the presence of a crowded bat community. Furthermore; there are cave worms and several beetles living in guano as well as a few types of spiders; which are all indications of an intense cave fauna [Ilhan 1989b:9-10].


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