Deliktaş Rock Altar and Dungeon (Deliktaş) Holy Site

Deliktaş Rock Altar and Dungeon (Deliktaş) Holy Site

They are the ruins scattered over two areas on the ridge of Deliktaş Village, which is connected to the Dikili district of Izmir. These sacred areas were registered as 1st Degree Archaeological Site and 1st Degree Natural Site Area by the İzmir 1st Protection Board in 1993. A comprehensive excavation has not yet been carried out for these areas. One of the North West Anatolian rock altars is the Deliktaş Rock Altar. A similar one can be found in Balıkesir province, Burhaniye district, Dutluca village. A comprehensive excavation has not yet been carried out for these areas. One of the North West Anatolian rock altars is the Deliktaş Rock Altar. A similar one can be found in Balıkesir province, Burhaniye district, Dutluca village. The name of natural rock here is Deliktaş. The great hole of Deliktaş has a view overlooking the village, the plain and the Çandarlı Bay -Elaitikos Kolpos, albeit from afar. From the place where the altar is located, the peak of Kane-Kara Mountain can be seen. Although not exactly, Dungeon is similar to Taşkule, a Persian Tomb on the Phokaia (Foça) Road. Taşkule is a group of graves carved into a natural rock. Dungeon, on the other hand, consists of a 'Dark Room' with its door facing north, and around it, steps, wells, niches, votive pits, and scattered rock sarcophagi, carved and material removed rock formations. Zindancık is also remarkable with its other ruins. Right next to the dark room, there are two different levels that can be climbed by steps. It is both the highest point of the elevation above the tomb and a place of worship. There are rectangular, square and circular altar pits and the altar well, almost overlapping the room. When you climb the stairs, the altar pits carved into the original rock and the canals thought to have been opened for rituals are striking. Behind this area, there are two groups of rooms carved into the original rock. It is thought that these rooms may have traces of the temples related to this area in the sanctuary. At the edge of the large room, the mouth of the well, which is also connected to another cistern, draws attention. It is thought that the cistern with ceramic fragments inside was covered with a cover with traces on the rock. There is a large niche in the wall in this room.