OBRUK
About us
A volunteer, non-profit community of cavers documenting Anatolia's underground since 2008.
The OBRUK Cave Research Group (o'mag) is a volunteer civic group of cavers who explore, survey, map and publish Turkey's natural caves and man-made underground structures.
The group brings together experienced cavers from different clubs and associations around a shared philosophy: thorough scientific research, timely publication of results, and respect for nature and heritage. OBRUK is non-profit; its work is carried out through the effort and contributions of its members and in partnership with public institutions and foundations.
Founded in Istanbul in 2008, the group began publishing OBRUK Magazine the following year, a periodical that regularly publishes the results of cave research. Since then the group has discovered and mapped caves across Anatolia and carried out some of the most comprehensive inventories of underground cities, rock-cut settlements and historic water systems in Turkey.
Our principles
Documentation first
Even a single cave map deserves to be published. Everything surveyed must be recorded and made available to researchers.
Conservation
Caves and underground structures cannot be restored once lost. The only trace we leave is our survey stations.
Sharing
Since its third issue, OBRUK Magazine has been open to the work of all caving groups.
Cooperation
We run joint projects with municipalities, museum directorates, foundations and cavers from abroad.
Milestones
- 2008
The OBRUK Cave Research Group was founded in Istanbul.
- 2009
First issue of OBRUK Magazine. Members investigated the underground structures of Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace.
- 2010
Keş Mountain Sinkhole expeditions and the Kahramanmaraş surveys began. OBRUK Magazine became an independent publication with its third issue.
- 2011
The joint Insuyu Cave remapping project started; the group presented numerous papers and posters at the 5th National Speleology Symposium.
- 2012
The Gaziantep Underground Structures Inventory began.
- 2013
8 papers at the 16th International Congress of Speleology (Brno). Mapping of Cappadocian underground cities and the Kayseri inventory began.
- 2016
The surveyed length of Insuyu passed 10,000 metres.
- 2017
The international Hypogea 2017 congress, organised entirely by OBRUK, was held in Ürgüp with scientists from 9 countries.
- 2018
Gaziantep's livas and kastels were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
- 2020
The Koramaz Valley was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
- Bugün
A protocol was signed with the Municipality of Ürgüp for the Underground Structures Inventory of Ürgüp; fieldwork continues.
Partners
- Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality
- Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality
- Municipality of Ürgüp
- ÇEKÜL Foundation
- General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks
- Nevşehir Museum Directorate
- Aksaray Museum Directorate
- University caving clubs: İTÜMAK · BÜMAK · ASPEG · HÜMAK · AKÜMAK