Öküzini-cave, cave in southern Turkey
Öküzini Cave is a natural rock opening in Antalya Province in southwest Turkey that forms within limestone. The main chamber extends deep into the mountain and branches into several narrow passages with various smaller rooms.
People used the cave around 18,000 years ago during the late Stone Age and returned repeatedly over thousands of years. Archaeological layers reveal different phases of occupation with tools, animal bones, and hearth remains marking their activities.
The cave's name reflects local terminology from ancient times. Visitors can observe how people organized the space - the hearths and scattered tools reveal that this was a regularly used shelter and an important center for their seasonal movements and survival activities.
The entrance is partially blocked by large stones, but open areas near the entrance are accessible to visitors. Comfortable shoes and a flashlight are helpful for safely exploring the inner chambers and passages.
Obsidian artifacts found in the cave came from distant sources, showing that early people traded or traveled across long distances. These discoveries reveal that networks of mobility and exchange existed thousands of years ago.
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