Hasuni Caves

The Hasuni Caves are a multi-storey ancient settlement carved into monolithic rock masses in the Hasuni Valley on the southern foothills of Albat Mountain, commanding the Silvan Plain.

History and Settlement

Occupation traces reach back to the Mesolithic, and rescue excavations in the area have yielded finds dated from roughly the 1st century BC to the 13th century AD. As a result the caves saw almost uninterrupted habitation across thousands of years, serving as dwellings, places of worship, refuge and storage. Comprising some 300 rooms of varying size, the complex is famous for its multi-level "duplex" layout, with sections rising three, five and even seven storeys, making it one of the world's earliest multi-storey rock settlements and a rare example in Anatolia in terms of extent and number of chambers; from a distance it resembles a fortress.

Architecture and Discoveries

Architecturally, Hasuni contains rock-cut water cisterns, a bathhouse built of cut stones (its roof collapsed and its exact date unknown), stepped rock staircases, stone-paved paths, temple-like spaces and two rock churches linked by corridors. The Hasuni Rock Church, thought to have been used from the early years of Christianity until the 13th century, and the small amphitheatre beside it are the most striking features. In 2019 two ancient epitaphs in Syriac-Aramaic script were discovered next to the caves, recording that a priest named Monoha is buried here and asking everyone who reads the inscription to pray for him; these finds concretely document the region's early Christian and Syriac past. Since 2013 the site has been on a list of projects awaiting tourism development, and an application has been made toward UNESCO World Heritage candidacy.

Visiting and Access

Because of its cultural weight and photogenic fabric, Hasuni features increasingly in GAP and Upper Tigris tours. Administratively it lies in the Silvan district of Diyarbakır, on the international road about 6 km east of Silvan town, yet its closeness to the Batman–Malabadi corridor leads agencies to add it as an extra stop on Batman–Hasankeyf–Malabadi routes. Agencies favour it because it offers an uncrowded, authentic and still "undiscovered" experience, sits very close to the Malabadi Bridge, and allows activities such as hiking and paragliding. The average visit lasts 1 to 1.5 hours; in guided programmes it usually forms a half-day block together with the Malabadi Bridge. The best photo angles are the overall cave facade seen from the opposite valley slope, the church entrance and the cistern interiors.

Access is by private car or tour coach via the Silvan–Malabadi road; because a footpath and rocky-slope climb follow the point where vehicles are left, coaches park in the roadside lay-by and groups walk up. Due to the uneven rock ground and steep stairs there is no wheelchair access, so sturdy shoes and water are advised. The best periods are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), as the shadeless rock surfaces grow very hot on summer middays; peak season is spring and the religious-holiday breaks. Recommended route: Batman Museum → Malabadi Bridge → Hasuni Caves → Hasankeyf.