Kargalı Rock Tombs & Caves

History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore Kargalı Rock Tombs and Caves, carved into the steep limestone cliffs near Kargalı Village of Elmadağ, are a registered rock necropolis and shelter area dating back to the Phrygian and Roman periods. Burial chambers with symmetrical entrances, burial beds (klines), votive niches and water cisterns were carved into the steep rocky surfaces. This rock settlement, located deep in the valley, served as both a sacred burial ground and a protected shelter for the villagers in times of war and raids in ancient times. According to the rumor among the local people, there are cells inside the caves where the monks who lived in the past prayed, and it is believed that the water leaking from the mountain is good for eye diseases. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features The rock settlement is located on the steep slopes of Kargalı Valley, at an altitude of 1,180 meters. It is dominated by a steep valley structure covered with karst limestone cliffs, oak groves and mountain thyme. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees