Recent excavations in İnönü Cave, located in Alacabük village, Karadeniz Ereğli, have revealed important archaeological findings linked to the elusive Kashka community of Anatolia. The excavation, initiated in 2017 under the leadership of Ahmet Mercan, Director of the Karadeniz Ereğli Museum, involved a 25-member international team and has uncovered multiple significant artifacts.
According to Associate Professor Hamza Ekmen from Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, the cave's history dates back approximately 6,500 years. Following meticulous examination of the archaeological findings, the site has been designated for protection.
During the last excavation season, researchers identified five distinct archaeological cultural layers within the cave, with notable discoveries in the third layer. Ekmen emphasized that these findings are related to the Kashka communities, which have been referenced in Hittite cuneiform texts as groups living in mountainous, forested regions north of the Hittites without a defined political authority.
For over a century, archaeologists have sought concrete evidence of the Kashka's existence and cultural production. The findings from the late Bronze Age, dated to approximately 3,400 to 3,200 years ago, are believed to belong to the Kashka community. This marks a significant step in uncovering the first archaeological traces of the long-lost Kashka people, who have remained largely undocumented in historical records.