Seben Kaya Houses

Seben Rock Houses are multi-story, multi-unit historical rock dwellings carved by human hands into steep rocky slopes in the Seben district of Bolu province.

Location

Within the valleys of Seben district, which belongs to Bolu province, numerous settlements have been carved directly into the rock. The most significant of these rock house settlements are concentrated around the villages of Alpagut, Muslar Neighborhood, Çeltikdere, Karca, Solaklar and Kaşbıyıklar.

Among these structures, the most prominent is the Solaklar Rock Houses, located 4 kilometers from the center of Seben district. This settlement lies approximately 2 kilometers inside the Seben-Bolu road, situated northeast of Solaklar Village at a distance of about 750 meters from the village center. The rock houses are positioned on the rocky slope rising along the northern edge of the valley carved by the Kuz Dere.

Interior Structure of Seben Rock Houses (Anadolu Ajansı)

Historical Periodization

The presence of red-painted cross symbols and the existence of features such as chapels and reliquary niches in some dwellings suggest that the Seben Rock Houses may have been in use from the Early Christian period through the Middle Byzantine period.^【1】

Architectural and Structural Features

The rock houses consist of numerous units carved into the rock at close intervals. The structures are composed of four to five stories, with each level connected to the next by vertical shafts (chimney stairs).

Floor Plan and Interior Spatial Organization

The spatial organization of the structures, three stories of which are currently open to visitors, is detailed in sources as follows:

Seben Rock Houses (Anadolu Ajansı)

• Ground Floor: The large entrance area of the rock settlement is believed to have been used for sheltering livestock.
• First Floor: Composed of three rooms arranged along a corridor. Small niches are carved into the walls of the rooms. On both walls of the second room, a cross is depicted, with a Latin inscription positioned above each cross. The right side of the corridor features window openings offering views of the valley.
• Second Floor: Accessed via a vertical shaft, this level consists of a single room. To the left of the shaft, a well approximately 1.5 meters deep and in diameter has been carved into the floor.
• Third Floor: This single-room level contains a cistern measuring 1.5 by 1.5 meters opposite the window. Water is channeled into this cistern from outside through a conduit connected to the window.
• Fourth Floor: The ceiling height is approximately 1.20 meters. It is assumed that this level was used for surveillance of the valley due to its elevated position.

Protection Status and Tourism

The Seben Rock Houses were registered as a First-Degree Archaeological and Natural Site by the Ankara Regional Council for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2009. The Solaklar Village Rock Settlement was granted the status of “Strictly Protected Sensitive Area and Qualified Natural Conservation Area” in 2023. Today, in the area open to tourism, mountain-style accommodation facilities operated by the Seben Municipality and a rural restaurant provide services at the Solaklar location.