Karaman "Taşkale" Yerleşimi ve Yöresel Mimari Özellikleri

Abstract

Taşkale, formerly called as Kızıllar, is located within 46. km distance from the city centre of Karaman. The Manazan Ruins area, dating from 2nd-3rd century (A.D.) has been declared as archaeological protection site of 1^st grade. The Manazan Inns which were carved into a natural rock on the northern slope of the İbrala Valley on which the town was located, are 5 storey high for­mations consisting of hundreds of rooms. In addition to Manazan inns, there are 251 cells(spaces) on the northern part of Taşkale, which were carved out of a steep rock of 40 m. and are used today as staples. Taş Mescid (the Rock Mescid) is also an ancient chape! carved out of rock. Taskale extends towards east starting from these stables. The original urban texture of Taşkale on the nortern slope of the narrow valley that Ibrala Creek opened which was declared as urban protection site, ascends step by step in a terraced area. Mostly the roof of a house is the courtyard of another house. Wood, stone and soil are the main building materials used in the region. In the region, there are also Asarini and İncesu Inns which were declared as Natural Protection Site of 1^st grade and Gürlük Spring. Although Taşkale has been declared as urban, archaeological and natural pro­tection area, there are no works being carried out for the protection and assessment of the values and the town has been left to decay. Today, the local people of the town are struggling poverty and impossi­bilities. Some have already left the area due to economical and social inabilities. Urgent precautions should immediately be taken to prevent this situation and to safeguard the original texture (natural and urban) and the present building stock. The local people should be encouraged to be more productive.