Official opening of the 5-million-year-old Tulumtaş Cave held

The official opening ceremony of Tulumtaş Cave, which was discovered during work at a quarry operated for the construction of the Ankara Ring Road in the Gölbaşı district of Ankara, has taken place.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy noted that Tulumtaş Cave dates back 5 million years, and that its development accelerated within the last 1 million years, leading to the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, and the creation of columns as a result of their merging.

Stating that the cave was discovered by chance, Ersoy said, "It was discovered during the construction of the Ankara Ring Road. It was then declared a first-degree natural site by the Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board. Subsequently, it was brought into tourism, especially through the efforts of the Gölbaşı Municipality."

'A VERY VALUABLE REGION'

Pointing out that there are tumuli in the region where the cave is located, Minister Ersoy said, "These tumuli, especially the Tulumtaş Tumulus, are important. Settlement layers belonging to the Middle Bronze Age, Hellenistic, Roman, and Eastern Roman periods have been found. We are in a very, very valuable region both archaeologically and as a natural site."

Minister Ersoy stated that thanks to the cinevision screen installed in Tulumtaş Cave, citizens visiting the cave can easily access historical information.

Stating that a total of 206 meters of walking paths have been built, Ersoy noted that an environment has been created where visitors can tour with pleasure. Minister Ersoy also thanked Gölbaşı Mayor Ramazan Şimşek for the work done and his contributions to the cave.

In addition to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Gölbaşı Mayor Ramazan Şimşek also attended the official opening ceremony of the cave.