Adamkayalar


Adamkayalar is a location in Mersin Province, Turkey famous for rock carved figures.

Geography

Adamkayalar is on the southern slopes of the Toros Mountains only several kilometers north of the Kızkalesi and Mediterranean coastline at about. Distance to Kızkalesi, the coastline town is, to Silifke is and to Mersin is. Kızkalesi is on the Datça-Mersin highway. To reach Adamkayalar the travellers have to follow an asphalt village road of. But the last of the path which detaches from the village road, leads to a gorge named Şeytanderesi. The rest of the road is impassable by the motor vehicles and in order to reach the rocks the explorers should climb down.

Figures

On the rocks facing the gorge, there are carved figures in 9 niches. These are the figures of 11 males, 4 females and 2 children and 1 ibex. On pediment, there are also the figures of Roman eagles. No document exists about the origin of the figures.
But these figures are probably from the second century AD.
In 2019 a large amount of damage was inflicted on the reliefs; reports said it had been done by treasure hunters who believed gold was inside the statues.