Submerged Historical Heritage

In the ancient settlement of Pertek, which lies beneath the waters of the Keban Reservoir, excavations carried out between 1966 and 1971 by the Department of Conservation at METU and the General Directorate of Foundations identified a castle, two mausoleums, two mosques, a caravanserai, a mausoleum, two bathhouses, a weigh house, a church and a pavilion (Danık, 2004). Research has indicated that most of these structures were in a poor structural condition. The area surrounding Pertek Castle, a medieval fortress, was submerged by the reservoir waters; however, due to its height, the castle itself was spared from being submerged. The Çelebiağa and Sungurbey mosques, however, were saved by being relocated to New Pertek. The other structures, having been submerged by the reservoir waters, have not survived to the present day. Information regarding the submerged structures is presented based on data compiled from the inventory forms of Middle East Technical University (METU), as found in the book Doomed by the Dam (1967).