DILUCAN BOZÎ

Kobanî - There are historical ruins in some villages of Kobanê, but most of them have been relocated, destroyed, or stolen.

There were black stone statues of two lions in the Şêranê district of Kobanî before the Baathist regime left the city. However, these statues were taken to Raqqa. The historical caves on the Miştenur hill were destroyed during the conflicts. Almost all the historical places in Syria were destroyed in the ongoing civil war.

The historical holy places in Kobanî were also destroyed. Xanmamed and Kurikê are two holy places for local people in Kobanî but they are in ruins now. Many Armenian churches are also located in Kobanî; however, these churches have been also in ruins now.

Caves of Kobanî

There are many historical caves across Kobanî such as Telik, Miştenûr, Devemuxar, Minaz and Sêv Eli caves. These caves were built reportedly for defense in the past. Women of Kobanî’s Minazê village spoke to NuJinha about the caves called “Keskesor” by local people because their stones red, yellow and green.

Caves are cool in summer, warm in winter

64-year-old Xecide İmam Eli gave us information about Keskesor caves in her village. “Their stones are marble with yellow, red, and green colors. For this reason, they are called Keskesor (green, red, and yellow in Kurdish). The colors of these hundred-year-old caves have been like this since ancient times. These caves are four km away from the Minazê village. There are rooms in these caves and they are cool in summer and warm in winter.”

Miştenûr Cave

80-year-old Xanim Ebid Geni told us there are about 30 caves around the Helincê village. Miştenûr Cave is the biggest cave among them. “As we heard, there was water everywhere and that’s why the cave was built here. The dead were buried here. Then, British soldiers used the cave as a military base. People began to build their houses around the cave. At that time, the girls of the village used to go to the cave to have a picnic.”

Historical places should be protected

Xanim Ebid Geni talked about Keçikan Cave and she told us the cave had been used by young girls as a picnic area. “The historical places of Kobanî should be protected,” she said.