{"id":133,"date":"2021-02-15T12:15:40","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T11:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antalyatouristinformation.com\/d\/?page_id=133"},"modified":"2021-06-20T21:49:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-20T19:49:01","slug":"karain","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/antalyatouristinformation.com\/d\/things-to-do\/cave\/karain\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Karain Cave in Antalya: History & Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want to visit the cave where the first Anatolian inhabitants lived? You are at the right place!<\/p>\n

Karain cave is an important site to visit in Turkey. Indeed, it’s considered to be the oldest human habitation in Anatolia and it is the largest cave in Turkey to have ever been inhabited. <\/p>\n

This precious cave gives information about all phases of the Paleolithic age in continuity. It’s one hour from Antalya by car.<\/p>\n

In this article, you will find all the useful tourist information about this place’s history and tips to make your discovery easier.<\/p>\n

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What Can I Do at Karain Cave?<\/h2>\n

Experts calculated that Karain cave is 500,000 years old<\/strong> and was inhabited from the Paleolithic Age to the Iron Age<\/strong>. It’s understood from old inscriptions on the walls and other findings that it was used as a religious center during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.<\/p>\n

A visit to the cave is extremely interesting for all, considering that these places were used as shelter for human beings from the beginning of existence until today. Caves were the simplest form of shelter to keep humans safe.<\/p>\n

Karain cave is considered as a very important place in the world because it sheds light on the arrival of the first people who migrated from Africa to Anatolia. This is crucial information in the exploration of human civilization from the first humans until today’s time.<\/p>\n

There are three large chambers, which are separated by calcite walls, stalagmites, and stalactites connected by narrow passages. <\/p>\n

Traces of Neanderthals<\/h3>\n

The Paleolithic Age has three phases; the Old Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic, and Upper Paleolithic Ages. Neanderthals lived in the Middle Paleolithic period. The teeth and skulls of Neanderthals were found in this cave. The drawings and tools, as well as human and animal bones from every phase of the Paleolithic Age can be seen in Karain cave.<\/p>\n

Fossilized bones of animals such as pigs, horses, goats, deer, as well as many other large animals such as elephants, lions, panthers, hippos, rhinoceros, and hyenas, which are now extinct in Anatolian lands, were found in the cave.<\/p>\n

Karain Museum<\/h3>\n

Some artifacts found in Karain Cave are exhibited in the Karain Museum at the foot of the mountainside. You can also see a number of findings obtained from Karain Cave in the Prehistoric Hall at the Antalya Archaeology Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There is a small cafe\/shop on the site. <\/p>\n

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Entrance, Tickets, and Tours<\/h2>\n