Location: |
Cennet Adası, Marmaris, Muğla
(36.813045, 28.296852) |
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Dimension: | A=350 m asl. |
Guided tours: | self guided |
Photography: | allowed |
Accessibility: | no |
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info. |
1998 | two female sandstone statues found. |
1999 | declared a first degree archaeological site. |
2007 | excavations by the Muğla University financed by the Marmaris Municipality. |
2008 | landscaping completed and cave opened to visitors. |
Nimara Mağarası (Nimara Cave) is located on Cennet Adası (Paradise Island), which is actually a peninsula in the bay of Marmaris. The archaeological importance of the cave was discovered in 1998, when two female sandstone statues were found in the cave. Unfortunately the cave was quite popular and the high numbers of visitors caused damages. In order to prevent further damages the Marmaris Municipality organized an archaeological excavations in 2007. The result were human remains from the last 12,000 years. Exceptional was an enormous amount of colored glass beads, which suggests that this place was used as a bead workshop until the Bronze Age. During Roman time the cave was the place of an votice temple. There were two votive areas and 50 human terracotta figures and plenty of coins.
In 2008, after the excavations were completed the municipality placed signs on the trail to the cave. After there was no more harm in people visiting the cave they actively promoted it. There are now trails in the cave and the cave is open to visitors.