Karain Cave

Karain Cave, 27 km northwest of Antalya, is the most important prehistoric site in Turkey — a large natural cavern that served as a shelter, then a cult site, then a place of burial, for an unbroken stretch of human occupation spanning over 100,000 years. The bones of Neanderthal humans have been found here, making it one of the westernmost Neanderthal sites yet discovered.

The cave is open to visitors (guided tours in season), and a small museum at the entrance displays some of the finds from the excavations. The drive through the mountains north of Antalya is scenic and the cave itself is atmospheric. Combine with a visit to the ancient city of Termessos, 25 km further into the mountains.

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Karain Cave shows evidence of continuous human habitation spanning 150,000 years — from Palaeolithic Neanderthals through to the Copper Age. When excavations began in 1946, the finds included the remains of cave bears, wolves, deer, and early human tools. The cave was used so continuously that layers of human and animal bone, ash, and worked stone accumulated to a depth of over 11 metres.

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