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Sınırlar, Zirveler, Dirheler Uludere

2024, SINIRLAR, ZİRVELER VE DİRHELER: ŞIRNAK-ULUDERE YÜZEY ARAŞTIRMASI

Abstract

As part of the Mountainous Şırnak Survey Project, studies were also carried out in the Uludere District. This district starts from the east of the Hezil Stream, which divides Şırnak into two administratively and topographically units, and forms a large part of the Turkey-Northern Iraq border. The district is surrounded by high mountains such as Kel Mehmet and Tanintanin. The altitude is about 1000 m on the slopes of Hezil and gradually increases towards the east and reaches 3200 m. Mountain passages on the high plateaus of this mountainous region are used especially in summer. Originating from this zone, the streams of Hezil, Ortasu and Lesser Habur and eventually merge with Tigris, the most powerful water reserves in the district. The Ortasu is one of the rivers flowing in an east-west direction in Uludere as well as the entire mountainous Şırnak region. River valleys are the primary road networks during periods of heavy snowfall. Nearly forty dirhes, five settlements and a fortress were identified during the surveys in Uludere. Dirhes are large tower-like structures, mostly built of raw stones, with a quadrangular plan and at least two storeys. The Uludere dirhes are located on river valleys on the south-western slopes of Altındağlar, the southern slopes of Tanintanin and the south-eastern slopes of Kel Mehmet Mountains. These structures continue into the mountainous terrain of Northern Iraq. The architectural features and the pottery of dirhes are completely consistent with those identified in Beytüşşebap.