Has anyone heard of fossils?
Did you know that Cappadocia is rich in fossils? Hacıbayram Veli University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Okşan Başoğlu lists the villages of Yeniyaylacık, Yüksekli, Emmiler, Hırkadağı in Gülşehir, Paşabağları and Özkonak Dere in Avanos, and Sofular, Taşkınpaşa, Karain in Ürgüp as fossil localities in the region. Başoğlu, who started excavations in 2018 in the fossil bed located on the slopes of Kışlacık Dere, 3 km from Sofular and spreading over an area of approximately 5 km2, states that the fauna is quite rich in terms of species and population numbers. Another excavation is being carried out by Prof. Cesur Pehlevan near Yeni Yaylacık village, 1.5 km from Gülşehir. Among the animals found in excavations to date, there are also odd or even-toed ungulates such as sheep, goats, cattle, giraffes, pigs, horses, rhinoceroses, and carnivores such as hyenas and weasels.
