Meya, Biligan and Ani caves are waiting to be opened to tourism
Emphasizing that the caves in the Meya Ancient City were carved by human hands, Kaya said, „In the past, when cities were established, higher areas were chosen as settlement areas because security concerns were at the forefront. We see this in the Meya Ancient City as well.“ he said. Kaya pointed out that the historical area in the region was destroyed by treasure hunters and requested that these caves, which have tourism potential, be protected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 800 CAVES AT THE ANI RUINS IN KARS.
Located in the valley where the Arpaçay River passes in Kars, Ani, ruled by the Bagratids in the period 884-1045 and by the Byzantines in the period 1045-1064, was conquered by the Seljuk Sultan Alparslan on August 16, 1064. Ani, which is the first gateway to Anatolia from the Caucasus in history and stands out with its Turkish-Islamic architectural works from the 11th and 12th centuries, was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2016.
In addition to the artifacts on the surface of Ani Ruins, the underground caves and underground cities also attract attention. There are a total of 823 caves in Bostanlar and Mığmığ stream, 693 of which are one-room, 91 are two-room, and 26 are 8-room. The region also includes 16 dovecotes, 1 caravanserai, 3 underground passages, 1 monastery, 35 churches, 13 tombs and 3 buildings of unknown use.
„5 THOUSAND YEARS OF UNINTERRUPTED LIFE SPACE“
Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Hayrettin Çetin, talking about the historical background of the caves in Ani Ruins, said, „These caves have been used since 3 thousand BC. There are approximately 800 caves in the Bostanlar Creek location in Ani Ruins, an uninterrupted living space of 5 thousand years. „They were used for various purposes and have survived until today.“ said.
Çetin mentioned that efforts are continuing to bring the caves into tourism and said:
„Many of these caves were used as food storage, haystacks or stables, and they continue to be used today. When Ani is mentioned, not only the 800-hectare area in the Ani Ruins, but also the caves and underground cities in the Bostanlar and Mığmığ Stream should come to mind. Almost all of the caves here have a cave.“ Each cave has a name and was used for certain purposes, such as 7 Columns, Deve Hanı, Laz District, Ahmetlerin Evi. Villagers still use these caves. They are used as food storage, stables and hay rooms. Until the 1950s, the caves were more active. was being used.“
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The caves in the Meya Ancient City and Ani Ruins in Kars are of significant historical and cultural value. Both areas have a large number of caves, some of which have been used for various purposes for thousands of years. Efforts are being made to bring these caves into tourism and protect them from treasure hunters. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has been requested to protect the caves in the Meya Ancient City, and the Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Hayrettin Çetin highlighted the historical significance of the caves in the Ani Ruins. The caves have been used for food storage, haystacks, stables, and other purposes for thousands of years and continue to be used by villagers today. The rich historical and cultural heritage of these caves makes them important sites for preservation and potential tourism development.
