06.12.2025 10:10
The underground mosque that was accidentally discovered near Cehennem Deresi in the Sason district of Batman has excited archaeologists, indicating an unknown period with its mihrab, acoustic cubes, and mysterious graves.
A subterranean mosque was accidentally discovered by villagers in the Gömek Plateau of the Karameşe village, located in the Sason district of Batman.
The architectural details inside the structure, found near the Cehennem Deresi, point to an unknown date. The underground structure, accessed through a small opening in a rocky slope, contains a mihrab, dozens of jars believed to have been used for sound insulation embedded in the walls, and a large grave of unknown identity.
NO RECORD OF THE UNDERGROUND MOSQUE
In the surface examination conducted in the area where the structure was found, a large number of long graves, including children's graves, were identified. It is known that the artifacts obtained from previous research conducted by the Batman Governorship in the region were recorded in the Batman Cultural Inventory, while the absence of any record regarding this underground mosque is noteworthy.
"LIKE IT CAME OUT OF THE DEPTHS OF HISTORY"
Nature walker Sabahattin Atalay, who witnessed the discovery of the mosque, expressed that they were astonished by the sight they encountered after passing through Cehennem Deresi, saying, "While hiking in Gömek Plateau, the villagers showed us an opening. The sight we encountered inside was truly surprising. The mihrab was completely intact. There were many jars embedded in the walls, which I learned were used for acoustics. There is a large grave inside. When we came out, we saw dozens of graves spread across the plateau. It is a structure that seems to have come out of the depths of history. The period is unknown, and it requires expert examination. In my research, experts indicated that the architecture of the structure could point to the Middle Ages - early Islamic period or an even older culture, but that precise dating could only be done through comprehensive archaeological work," he said.