Entrance to cave on the west bank of Ahmetbey Deresi

In the valley of the Ahmetbey Deresi a few kilometres northwest of Vize are limestone caves in which people have lived and worshipped for thousands of years. The village of Soğucak currently occupies the site and the caves are empty except for farm machinery and the occasional goat.

One of the kaya küpleri - the rock-cut storage jars - to the south of Soğucak

As one approaches from the main road in the south, the cliff on the left bristles with human-cut structures of the kind seen in the ancient settlement at Balkaya.  Most of these are basic housing and storage areas.

Cave with human alterations to the south of Soğucak

The cliffs rise high on the western side as one enters the village. The first major landmark is a formation that resembles the nearby Gemi Kaya, but without the major rock carvings.

Not Gemi Kaya

Above the centre of the village is a complex of caves including the impressive Hatim Ağanın Mağara (41.636884, 27.654279).

Cave entrance

One of the interior series of rooms

This is a large cavern with the remains of human attempts to enclose the area. Several other caverns lead off the first chamber. These have been used as barns and animal shelters and any wall decorations of significance have disappeared.

Overview of Soğucak from above Hatim Ağanın Mağara

The whole cliff face that overshadows the western side of Soğucak is a maze of caves.

Minor cave entrances in Soğucak cliffs

The eastern side of the river also has some decent caves although the cliff face is not continuous. The most impressive are near the cemetery and are used for storing grain and farm machinery.

One of the larger caves on the eastern side of the Ahmetbey Deresi

Civelek, E. (2016) Hatim Ağanın Mağara Yerleşim Alanı Kırklareli Kültür Varlıkları Envanteri. Available online at http://www.kirklarelienvanteri.gov.tr/sitler.php?id=135 Accessed 3th June 2016

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One Response to “Soğucak, Hatim Ağanın Mağara Yerleşim Alanı, Kırklareli”

1. Enormousfish | Rock-cut church on Çalışkan Farm / Çalışkan Çiftliği Kayaya Oyma Kilise | Adam Kaya Heskith | Author and Writer | Enormousfish Says:
   July 25th, 2016 at 4:23 pm

   […] in large quantities are the kaya küpleri that characterise sites in this area such as Balkaya and Soğucak. These are like the Greek pithoi, large earthenware jars used for storage. The ones in Turkish […]

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