BERHA NIVESANDİ ILLUSTRATED ROCK SHELTER

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The illustrated rock shelter is located in Arık (Dera Ser) of Bağözü village of Gercüş district of Batman province. Bağözü village is located 81 km south of Batman city center and 22 km southwest of Gercüş district centre.

There are human and animal figures carved on the bedrock in the rocky area known as Berha Nıvesandi by the local people. The figures were carved into the rock shelter, which was formed naturally in the limestone rock, which is 20.00 m in the north-south direction, 6.30 m in the east-west direction, 1.00 m above the ground and 3.30 m inside.

The figures inside the bunker were stylized with engraving and painting technique. Painted figures are made with red and black madder. Among the depictions, there are human, animal figures, geometric and plant motifs. Some of the human and animal figures are given independently and some are given in composition. Among the animal figures, there are compositions such as mountain goats, horses, chickens, and among the human figures, there are compositions such as people dancing folk dance and a rider on an animal.

Illegal excavation pits were observed in front of the shelter and inside the shelter. Due to the natural structure of the rock, the figures processed in the compositions are in danger of destruction and most of the depictions are destroyed due to destruction.