Hasankeyf: The Lost City Submerged by the Tigris

Hasankeyf wasn’t just another town—it was a living museum, carved into golden cliffs above the Tigris River. For over 12,000 years, people lived in its caves, prayed in its mosques, crossed its bridges, and watched over the valley from its high citadel. Located in southeastern Turkey, Hasankeyf stood as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth.

But in 2020, this ancient wonder disappeared beneath the waters of the Ilısu Dam. What was lost wasn’t just stone and soil—but a piece of human history.

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What is the history of Hasankeyf?

Hasankeyf has roots stretching back to the Neolithic period. The cliffs around the city are home to over 5,500 caves—some of which were used as homes, churches, and even bazaars.

• Romans fortified it and used it as a frontier town.
• Byzantines built churches and tunnels beneath the city.
• Artuqids and Ayyubids turned Hasankeyf into a cultural center.
• Under the Ottomans, it remained a small but vibrant community until modern times.

The name "Hasankeyf" is believed to come from Arabic: "Hisn Kayfa", meaning "rock fortress". And that’s exactly what the city looked like—a fortress city rising out of the rock.

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What made Hasankeyf so unique?

• Cave Houses: Locals lived in natural caves carved into limestone. These caves were cool in summer and warm in winter. Some even had internal staircases and windows looking over the Tigris.
• Old Tigris Bridge: Once the largest bridge in the region during the 12th century. Its stone piers still stood tall before the flood.
• Zeynel Bey Mausoleum: A rare example of Timurid-style architecture in Anatolia, with turquoise tiles and Persian design.
• Hasankeyf Castle: Sitting 100 meters above the river, the castle offered stunning views of the valley and the ancient city.

There were also ancient mosques, bazaars, cisterns, and carved stairways connecting different levels of the cliffside city.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly was Hasankeyf located?
In Batman Province, southeastern Turkey, about 90 minutes from the city of Batman. It was built directly on the banks of the Tigris River, surrounded by steep cliffs and rugged landscapes.

Why was it flooded?
Hasankeyf was submerged due to the Ilısu Dam, a massive hydroelectric project intended to provide energy and irrigation for the region. While beneficial for development, the dam meant raising water levels—and Hasankeyf was in the flood zone.

What happened to the people and monuments?
Residents were moved to a newly built town, New Hasankeyf, just 2 km away. Some monuments were carefully moved to higher ground, stone by stone. But many others—including the cliff dwellings and the original city layout—were lost under water forever.

Fascinating facts about Hasankeyf

• The city had more than 300 religious sites, including mosques, tombs, and madrasahs.
• In the 15th century, it was considered one of the most important scientific centers in the Islamic world.
• Archaeologists discovered tools from the Paleolithic era, showing how long humans lived here.
• The Tigris River carved out secret tunnels and passageways under the city, many of which remain unexplored.
• Even in the 1980s, people still bathed, cooked, and prayed in the same places as their ancestors from 1,000 years ago.

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Hasankeyf was not just a city—it was a bridge between past and present. Its story reminds us how quickly heritage can vanish. While development is important, Hasankeyf is a lesson that some treasures cannot be replaced. 

Today, the city sleeps beneath the Tigris. But its memory lives on in stories, museums, and photographs. If you ever visit Batman province, you can still see the relocated monuments, a modern museum, and hear the old stories from former residents.

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Contact us to plan your journey through Turkey’s deep history. Whether you're curious about Hasankeyf, Ephesus, Cappadocia, or the Black Sea villages—we’ll help you experience Turkey in a way few others do.