Hazar Merd Cave

Quick Facts

• Type: Cave complex
• Location: Near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
• Significance: Paleolithic archaeology
• Region: Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Overview

Hazar Merd is a cluster of caves in the hills near Sulaymaniyah and is known as one of the key Paleolithic sites of Iraqi Kurdistan. Archaeological work at the site documented early stone tools and long-term human use of the surrounding highlands.

The caves are part of a chain of prehistoric sites across the Zagros that show how early communities moved through the mountains and valleys of the region.

Landscape and Culture

The caves overlook wooded slopes and seasonal pastures that still shape local life. Their proximity to Sulaymaniyah makes Hazar Merd a well-known reference point for Kurdistan’s deep prehistory.

Notes

The site is often discussed alongside Shanidar as part of the broader Zagros archaeological landscape.