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A local claim that the long-lost tomb of Georgian Queen Tamar may be in the Kesikkayalar area of Posof, in Türkiye's northeastern Ardahan province, has brought renewed attention to one of the region's most debated medieval mysteries.
Queen Tamar, regarded as one of the most powerful rulers of the Middle Ages, ruled in the 12th and 13th centuries, when the Georgian Kingdom grew into one of the strongest powers in the Caucasus.
Historical accounts say the kingdom's influence reached parts of eastern Anatolia, including areas around Posof, where traces of Georgian culture and architecture still remain.
The location of Queen Tamar's tomb has remained unclear for centuries, and local accounts have long linked the mystery to caves in the Kesikkayalar area near Yolagzi village.
Fehim Gunduz, the headman of Yolagzi village, said Georgian research had suggested that the tomb was not in the areas previously considered in Georgia. According to him, those studies pointed instead to Posof or the part of Artvin facing Posof as possible locations.
Gunduz said earlier Georgian research had specifically mentioned the Kesikkayalar area in Posof. He also said local tradition refers to a settlement inside Kesikkayalar with 205 rooms, adding that the rock formation stretches about 800 meters in length and reaches about 150 meters in height.
Ardahan Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Ugur Dede, who inspected the Kesikkayalar area, said archaeological fieldwork carried out with Ardahan University in 2024 had identified important medieval remains in the region.
Dede said the area includes open caves and structures locally described as "guard caves," a term used for caves believed to have served a defensive or lookout role. He said columns were also found during examinations in the area.
"Their being natural is not possible," Dede said, adding that officials want to carry out new work in the area and prepare it as a destination. He said the authorities may move to register the entire area if needed.
Dede also referred to a local tradition about Queen Tamar, saying the story claims she passed through the region while Iranian forces were pursuing her and that a tunnel in Kesikkayalar was blocked during the incident.
According to the account he cited, Tamar, described as an important figure for the people connected to the story, died there. Officials have not presented this account as confirmed history, but the legend remains part of the local narrative around Kesikkayalar.
The results of the Posof Medieval Archaeological Surface Survey, which began in 2024 and were published in 2026, identified Kesikkayalar and its surroundings as an important archaeological area with many medieval cultural assets.
The area is now viewed as one of Posof's most significant medieval archaeological sites. Further research is expected to clarify the extent and character of the remains, while the claim about Queen Tamar's tomb continues to draw attention to the region.
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