Rock Painting and Water
The sites of rock paintings are found for the most part in the vicinity of water. Some are located directly above the bed of a brook, such as the ‘caves’ or overhangs of Damlıyurt, Kerdemelik and Söğütdere. Water and rock paintings are apparently to be seen as being causally related. The distribution of the rock paintings around the mountain peak, the site of an ancient rain cult, also points in favour of this.
One particularly impressive example for the relation of rock paintings and water is the enclosed valley basin of Çayırlık Mevkii, which is crossed by a brook (1.6). Two of the paintings are located inside the basin, the others outside of it. To the west, above the point where the brook enters the valley basin, is a large, painted cave (1.4). Further paintings are located on the eastern rock face, shortly before the brook exit (6). They show human figures in different groupings (2.3.5.7.8). The motif on the rock face outside of the valley basin is unusual in displaying a large textile pattern (9-11).
The sites of rock paintings are found for the most part in the vicinity of water. Some are located directly above the bed of a brook, such as the ‘caves’ or overhangs of Damlıyurt, Kerdemelik and Söğütdere. Water and rock paintings are apparently to be seen as being causally related. The distribution of the rock paintings around the mountain peak, the site of an ancient rain cult, also points in favour of this.
One particularly impressive example for the relation of rock paintings and water is the enclosed valley basin of Çayırlık Mevkii, which is crossed by a brook (1.6). Two of the paintings are located inside the basin, the others outside of it. To the west, above the point where the brook enters the valley basin, is a large, painted cave (1.4). Further paintings are located on the eastern rock face, shortly before the brook exit (6). They show human figures in different groupings (2.3.5.7.8). The motif on the rock face outside of the valley basin is unusual in displaying a large textile pattern (9-11).
Site: Çayırlık Mevkii
1) View from the North into the valley basin and the cave opening (see arrow), to the left of the cave the valley of the brook cut deep into the rock.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
