©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project





Gümüspinar

For cave maps and drawings please click on the picture...


For photographs please click on the photo...

maps
Gümüspinar
Type:
Horizontal Cave
Altitude:
190 m
Depth:
-2 m
Length:
70 m
Region:
Marmara
Province:
Istanbul
District:
Çatalca
Village:
Gümüspinar

     


Location: It lies 25 km northwest of the Catalca District. It can be reached by the Catalca-Subasi-Gumuspinar motorway. Taking the road on the right side just before the Gumuspinar Village reaches to a fountain and a fish farm after driving 100 m. Following the pathway behind the farm house and climbing the hill lead to the entrance of the cave.
Structural Properties and formation : It consists of a single fossil hall (29x9x3 m). It has travertine decorations on the walls and ceiling. It elongated to the both sides of a 4 m wide hall; the one on the right side has a 5x6 m rocky and inclined structure whereas the left one has a roof height ranging from 1 to 2 m and a narrowly elongating structure. It was formed within a calcareous position and covered with stalactites and stalagmites. Glazeless potsherds made of soil found at the end of the 70 m long cave are almost integrated into the crystallized calcareous mass [Albukrek et al. 1994:26].
Research History: It was explored by BUMAK and under the Eurasian Bridge '99 Project.
Findings: Apart from bats; a family of Glis-Glis inhabits in the entrance zone. Also known as Seven Sleepers; Glis-Glis is an amiable mammal with a 19 cm length; black ringed eyes; gray back and white underparts and a long bushy tail; and it is included in the Red List of Threatened Species [Albukrek et al. 1994:26].


To List