Type: | municipality |
Gerger | |
Coordinates: | 38.0289°N 39.0322°W |
Province: | Adıyaman |
District: | Gerger |
Leader Party: | AKP |
Leader Name: | Erkan Aksoy[1] |
Population Total: | 2753 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Postal Code: | 02700 |
Gerger (hy|Գարգար|Gargar|lit=mound; ku-Latn|Aldûş)[2] is a town of Adıyaman Province of Turkey. It is the seat of Gerger District.[3] It is mainly populated by Kurds of different tribal backgrounds and had a population of 2,753 in 2021.[4] [5] The mayor is Erkan Aksoy (AKP).[1]
In the 11th century the town formed a defensive outpost for the Byzantine Empire together with the city of Edessa, Samosata, Ḥiṣn Manṣūr and Chasanara and seems to have had a considerable garrison. After the Byzantines ruler over the region faded, the region around the Mor Bar Sauma monastery and Gerger became a base of power for local chiefs of Syrian and Armenian origin, and the town was under control of Constantine of Gerger.
According to The Geographical Journal in 1896, Gerger had 750 inhabitants with most being Kurds, with the exception of few Ottoman officials and Armenians.[6]
In 2018, archaeologists discovered a cave which used during religious ceremonies by Christians during the Byzantine period. Cross figures found inside the cave.[7]