Kozluk is a district of Batman province. Kozluk, formerly known as Hazo, is located on the northern border of Mesopotamia, in the eastern part of Anatolia. Its history dates back to the Neolithic period, and due to its strategic location, it has been a settlement area for various civilizations. Its area is 1,101 km², and its population is 61,100. It has 1 town (Bekirhan), 30 neighborhoods, 69 villages, and 115 hamlets.

History

Pre-Islamic Period: The upper Tigris valley where Kozluk is located hosted settlements in the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Ages. Excavations at the Hallan Çemi mound in Kaletepe village in 1990 uncovered female ornaments, animal figures, and stone weapons dating back approximately 12,000 years. These findings showed that the region was an older settlement than Çayönü. Civilizations such as Subarians, Hurrians, Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Urartians, Medes, Persians, Macedonians, Seleucids, Sasanids, Romans, and Byzantines lived in Kozluk. Around 1000 BC, the Assyrians fought with the Kur-tie tribe in the Hazo mountains; Ashurbanipal captured the Nişton fortress.

Pre-Ottoman Islamic Period: Kozluk was conquered by Iyad b. Ghanem during the period of Hz. Omar (H. 18/639) and incorporated into Islamic lands. It was ruled by the Umayyads, Abbasids, Hamdanids, Marwanids, Seljuks, Dilmaçoğulları, Artuqids, Ayyubids, Kara Koyunlu, Ak Koyunlu, and Safavids. During the Seljuk period (after 1085), the Hazo-Sason castles came under Seljuk rule. The Ayyubids established dominance in the region in the 13th century, and the Ak Koyunlu in the 15th century. Under pressure from the Safavids, the Ottomans took control of the region in 1515-1516 through the efforts of Idris-i Bitlisi.

Ottoman Period: Kozluk was administered as the principality of Sason-Hazo during the Ottoman period. According to Şerefname, the origin of the principality lies with the brothers İzzeddin and Ziyaeddin. In the 16th century, it was a sanjak (sub-province) of the Diyarbekir eyalet, sometimes administered with the status of a government. Evliya Çelebi described Hazo in 1655 as a small fortress and town. Hazo, a district of Siirt sanjak in the 19th century, had a population of 10,000 in the 1890s. According to Vital Cuinet, half of the population was Muslim, and the other half consisted of Armenian Gregorians and Catholics.

Republican Period: Hazo, which was a sub-district of Muş in the early years of the Republic and then of Sason, gained district status under Siirt in 1938 and was named Kozluk. It was connected to Batman when it became a province in 1990. Tobacco farming and leaf-tobacco enterprises led to population growth, but migration to large cities occurred due to tobacco quotas and security issues. With infrastructure investments, the district has become suitable for economic development.

Geographical Structure

Kozluk is located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, on the northern border of Mesopotamia. It is 59 km from Batman city center and 132 km from Diyarbakır. It is located between 41°10’ and 41°41’ east longitude and 38°40’ and 37°50’ north latitude, at an altitude of 750 m. Its area is 1,101 km². 30% of its land is mountainous, 45% is plain, 15% is plateau, and 10% is undulating. Its main mountains are Avcı, Taç, Aşit, Meydanoktepe, and Çikalotepe. Its north is surrounded by steep mountains, and its south slopes towards the Tigris valley and the Batman stream bed. The north, east, and west of the district are surrounded by rivers, giving it a peninsula-like appearance.

Climate and Vegetation

A continental climate prevails in Kozluk. The coldest months are January-February, and the hottest months are July-August. The soil is fertile and suitable for agriculture and animal husbandry. The main products are tobacco, wheat, barley, lentils, and cotton. Kozluk tomato is a thin-skinned, juicy variety cultivated in villages like Gümüşörgü and Yedibölük. Plateaus and cold springs are found in the mountainous areas. The vegetation consists of agricultural lands in the plains and plateaus, and sparse forests and pastures in the mountainous areas.

Social Structure

The people of Kozluk largely consist of Arab-origin communities who migrated from Basra during the Umayyad or Abbasid periods. While the majority speak Arabic, there are also those who have assimilated. Kurdish elements, such as the Rojkan tribe, are present. Evliya Çelebi describes the people as adhering to the Shafi'i school of thought. Migrations to western provinces occurred after 1933, and in recent years, migration has increased due to economic and security issues. Family ties are strong, and social solidarity is widespread.

Economic Structure

Kozluk's economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The main agricultural products are tobacco, wheat, lentils, cotton, tomatoes, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. Rock salt production in Tuzlagözü and Derince villages is used in brining, cheese making, and pickling. Rock salt is extracted from wells in spring months and obtained by evaporation. Cattle, small ruminant breeding, and freshwater fishing are common. Oil exploration in the Şelmo region, textile workshops, and industries such as earth, concrete, brick, and pumice provide employment. The Small Industrial Site has increased commercial activity. Kozluk is located on the Türkiye-Iran route.

Tourism

Malabadi Bridge, built during the Artuqid period (1147), is one of the world's widest stone arch bridges with a 38.6 m arch span and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Kozluk Castle, İbrahim Bey Mosque, and Hızır Bey Mosque (1512) are among the historical structures. Hallan Çemi Mound holds archaeological significance with its 10,000-year history. Taşlıdere Thermal Springs are developing for thermal tourism. The healing water source in Halile village, the fish pond in Oyuktaş Yeşilyurt, the Ayngebire (Tosunpınar) region, and Garzan-Cefan Pond are natural areas. Malabadi Nature Park and the park forest project support tourism.

Demographic Structure

Kozluk's population is 61,100 (population density: 55 people/km²). Around 30,000 people live in the center, and close to 65,000 in total. The majority of the population is Muslim, and in the past, Armenian Gregorians and Catholics were also present. Rapid population growth was supported by tobacco farming, but migration occurred due to quotas and security issues. The people are of Arab and Kurdish origin. It shares cultural and demographic similarities with Sason.