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Chewar Stoon Settlement (cave)
The center is Duhok city which is the center of the governorate at the same time. It lies in an extended and wide valley, to the north of the city there is the White mountain and to the south there is the great Dahkan (Shindokha) mountain, two small rivers flow in the city the first is called Duhok river which gushes from the north near Khaziava village and flows to the south, an irrigation dew was built on it in Duhok narrow passage (Geli Duhok) in 1990. The second tributary is smaller than the first one called Hishkarow River which gushes from the north- eastern near Barebuhar village and flows to the south- western, both rivers meet in the south- west of the city. The water of both rivers is used for watering the fruit farms spread on their banks. The existed remains close to the city show that the city has a significant location from the dawn (starting) of history to the present time. Duhok is an important historical city because of its strategic position between narrow passages (Geli Duhok, Kashafer) which lead to (Dargala Sheikha) narrow passage in which roads and paths were passed by and connected between the Assyrian state in Ninava and the kingdoms of Ouraratow, Kutians and Meetanians. Hartman the historian thinks that it was known as (Jahok) in the reign of Bassious and there is another opinion says that the word Duhok consists of two syllables (Dih) means the village and (Ok) means or a sign of small things, so it means (the small village) and there is a third opinion which we support it more than the rest, says that the word (Duhok) contains two words (Du) means (two) in Kurdish language and (Hok) means (lump), so they mean (two lumps) as a sign of receiving taxes because some historians and story- tellers said that the prince of Duhok city (Ak- Shindow) in the reign of Nouzi Kingdom was taking two lumps from the baskets as a tax from the passing caravans which carried wheat and barley. The words (Geri Bassi) are another clue to show that the third opinion is true, (Geri Bassi) was the position used as a check point and this point lies in the entrance of Duhok narrow passage. Duhok city joined to Badinan Emirate in the reign of Sultan (Hassan Beck Bin AL- Emir Saifadeen) who died in (940H.), its castle witnessed murdering one of the princes of Badinan Emirate (Qubad Beak Bin Sultan Hussein Wali) who ruled from (981 H.) to (989 H.), Duhok city remained under the control of the Emirate until its collapse in (1842 AC.) then it was joined to Mosul Brigade and after that Duhok territory was formed in (1290 H) (1873 A.C). When Mosul Brigade was collapsed by British armies and after the First World War, the management of Duhok territory was given to an Iraqi official called (Ahmed Azawi) he was the chief of the police in the territory and became the assistant of the political ruler. Then Sir Line was appointed as the political ruler of Duhok territory until the foundation of Iraqi government, so (Fatah beck) was appointed to be the Mayor of the territory and started in 1st of April, 1922. In 27th of May, 1969 Duhok governorate was formed and the city became the center of the governorate. Duhok city is famous of having many fruit fields and celebrated grapes but in the recent years and according to Baath policy seeking to deprive the Kurdish citizen from his land, therefore the government registered the lands and fields in the name of Duhok municipality then changed them into residential areas, so nothing left except the fields on the banks of both rivers which give a lot of resources and income to the citizens who depend on agriculture to earn their living. The city is extended constructively from its southern, western and eastern sides after the emigration processes from villages and country- sides by AL- Ba`ath regime, therefore a lot of them refugee inside the city and made its parts public residential garters and after the public uprising the commercial movement was flourished and it became an important trade center in Kurdistan Region. The city is surrounded by mountains from three directions, the White Mountain in the north, Shindokha Mountain in the south and Mamseen Mountain in the east while in the western direction; the city is opened to Sumeal agricultural plain. There are many ancient places in the city and its sides which transfer the life and culture of our grand- fathers, we can say it is a sort of muzeum contains a lot of locations, statues and carved pictures in its caves in addition to the remained ancient tombs spread in its lands to the present time which tell the story of the generations and periods the city passed by for instance:
The castle was in the location which is occupied now by Post and Communications Office. It was mentioned in the reign of Sultan Hassan Beck when Duhok city joined Badinan Emirate and also happened that one of the princes was killed in the castle, last one who mentioned it was the French traveler (Nedea) who passed the city in (1897) and described it as an ancient castle deserted by the prince and started to build a new castle and still there is a wall of the castle overlooking the river seen by every body. Back To Top
2- Chewar Stoon Settlement (cave) The settlement lies in the eastern side from Duhok narrow passage (Geli Duhok). The most important evidence which assures that it was an ancient settlement is the existence of the wall in the western side of it, also the existence of earthenware and stony bases for residential buildings and tombs. It is certain that the settlement passed several ancient civilization periods and the joint relation ship between the temple and the settlement is the existence of five torches (Hawen) spread on the road which leads to the main temple through a tunnel its length is about (11m), its width is about (4M) and its height is about (3M). While the main temple which is known as (Chewar Stoon Cave) because of the existence of four columns in it, one of them remained to the present time, each stony column is lain in the corner of a stony square shaped bench the length of its side is about (4.80M) and centralizes the temple. The whole temple is carved in the rock. Before reaching the gate of the temple, the symbols of five gods carved on the rock are noticed and they are symbols of (god of age), Otto (god of moon), (god of sun), (Mitra god), (Ishtar) and (Zirwan) and these gods symbolize to (Zaradishta) religion after the diversion from (Zaradishta) religion and they were worshiping the sun and the moon and they preferred them among the rest of gods. Back To Top
3- Malathaya Hill (Malta Hill) It is a great archaeological hill, lies in the west of Duhok city in about (7KM) and on the main road which connects Duhok city to Mosul and Zakho, the Assyrian earthenware is spread on its surface, it is thought that it was (Malitay) the Assyrian city which means the entrance or the path, it is also believed that it was a military castle of great and strategic importance in the Assyrian reign. Back To Top
It lies on the foot of (Shindokha) mountain in front of Gavarik village to the south west of Duhok city. These remains consist of four carved images in the form of similar scenes, each image contains a procession of seven gods riding on sacred animals and the king stands in front of it and another person behind him. These gods represent (Ashur, Anilil, Seen, Sun, Ishtar and Adid) and possibly it represents a remembrance of a military triumph. In 26th of October, 1991 the Interior Ministry of Iraqi regime issued a law numbered (594) to pull out the official s and establishments from the governor are but no- one carried that order out and the offices continued in their work and to give services to the citizens under the supervision of Kurdistan Forehead until the selection of the parliament in 19th of May, 1992 and the formation of Kurdistan Region Government in 4th of July, 1992. Then a new governor was appointed for the governorate he started his duties in 10th of September, 1992. Duhok city is the center of the governorate and the territory. The territory area is about (107) sq km. It contains (7) villages and they are (Upper Malta, Lower Malta, Gavarik, Shindokha, Shakheki, Baroshki and Nizarki) and these villages became quarters of the city.Duhok territoy consists of two districts and they are Zawita district and Doski district. Back To Top
Its center is the Lower Zawita which is far from the territory in about (16) KM and its area is about (420) sq km. It contains (59) villages all of them were destroyed before and during Anfal operations except the center of the district and the two enforced collective towns (Kori Gavana) and (Bakira). The center of the district situates on the main road which joins the center of district to Amedeye territory. Zawita town is considered one of the beautiful resorts in Duhok governorate, the highest degree of temperature in Zawita is (36) C in summer. It is well- known of elms forests in which there are extended areas of shade therefore king Feysal the second chose a spot among these forests and constructed a house for resting and touring. The people of Duhok city make this area as their recreational ground or park all the seasons of the year. The word Zawita in Kurdish language is given to places where snow falls heavily in the winter season meaning that it is close to the word fridge (cool box). The district is famous of dense forests and excellent pasture lands for breeding the cattle. The citizens of the district depend on winter agriculture to earn their living such as wheat, barley, lentils, chick- peas and others by exploiting the plain areas such as (Maman) plain and (Badi) knoll. They also take care of growing the fields of grapes, peaches and sumac in addition to summer agriculture such as rice, tomatoes, tobacco, peas, beans and vegetables, and growing fruitful trees like peaches, apricots, walnuts and (Tayfi) grapes in which villages such as (Bari Buhar, Khaziava, Binarink, Emink and others are well- known in growing such fruitful trees getting benefit from the water of springs which are spread on their parts in addition to the water of the following small rivers: 1-Zawita- Kora- Rashanki- Benarink- Bedeel- Gomill 2-Bagera- Kora- Rashanki- Benarink- Bedeel- Gomill 3-Kizoo- Peda- Bedeel- Gomill 4-Khaziava- linava- Garmava- Duhok Dam- Duhok- Tigris 5-Beri Buhar- Beseri- Nazarki- Duhok- Tigris The most important mountain in the district is (Kamaka Mountain which form the northern and western border for the district and (Bessi, Sepi-reze, Mamseen, Zawita Mountains, Kantara, Zorwa) and other heights which forms the majority of the area of the district distinguished by roughness and complexity There are many archaeolgical places in the district like caves, hills and remains. Duhok Archaeology Office recorded (24) archaeological locations, the most important ones are: Badi archaeological palace (destroyed during Anfal operations), Mamyan castle on Kamaka mountain, Beseri caves, Eteet, Koradeer, Piromara mountain, Bakhornif mountain, (Rash) the black cave in Kizoo, other places. There are many suitable places to be resort in the district, the visitors will come regularly to them in summer days for rest and tourism if the hands of reform and remonstrations reached them such as (Birgeen, Bablow, Kizoo, Merdeenk, Stokorik) and other villages. After the uprising and the formation of the Kurdistan Region Government, the hands of building and reconstructions reached the district and the majority of its villages were reconstructed in addition to water projects, building (schools, health centers, and mosques). Back To Top
The center is Mangish town and far from territory center in about (30) KM. Its area is about (454) sq km and contains (63) villages all of them were destroyed except the district center and Hogava village. The district joins the governorate center by a paved road branches from the north of Zawita narrow passage to the north- western passing in the middle of Doski area. The word Mangish has several meanings such as: It is said that one of the disciples called (prophet Tom) had passed this area when he traveled to India and (Tom) was the one who touched the Christ to believe his resurrection, the process is called (Man- Kash) in Assyrian language therefore the area is named according to this process. The second opinion says that it came from the word (Mikosh) which means Magi and the evidence to prove that is the places of worshiping the God according to Zaradishta religion principles in them and after the spreading of Christianity religion among the people of the area, the temple was changed into a church. The district is well- known of having excellent pasture lands and dense forests, the citizens depend on winter season agriculture such as wheat, barley, lentils and chick- peas, getting benefit from the flat and plain lands and knolls like (Deragizhnik) plain and (Telakorow) knoll and other flat and even lands spread in all parts of the district beside the farms of seasonal grapes and fruitful trees like nuts, figs, pears, sumac and fruit fields like such as peaches, apricots, apples and quinces. They also practice summer season agriculture like, tomatoes, rice, peas, beans, tobacco, onions, garlic and others getting benefit from the water of springs spread in villages and valleys beside the following small rivers: 1-Derk- Shamrakh- Sadi- Shawrik- Navdara- Chiran- Ashank- Khabir. 2-Mangish- Dulia- Kanisark- Geli Karam- Navdara- Chiran- Ashank- Khabir. In addition to Khabir River which forms the northern- western border of the district, it is benefited from its eastern bank in a dense way for agriculture and also from the water and the bank of western Sepna tributary which forms the northern border of the district. The citizens take care of breeding the cattle and the poultry. The most important mountain in the district is the series of Kamaka Mountain which extends from the east to the west till it meets with the White Mountain Birgeen village which is erected to the south of the district in addition to the kovili heights, Beroski and Zewka- Abu. Remains, hills, castles and archaeological cities are found in the district, Duhok Archaeology Office recorded (36) archaeological location such as (Adid Nirari) statue in Dergla sheikha, Geripete, Deragizhnik remains, Besefike, Derk, Babukheke, Gelnaseke and others beside the precious scripts in Mangish church their reign belonged to (1574). There are many suitable places to be beautiful resorts like Gelnaseke, Dukhorik, Besheenk and others. After the sacred uprising and the formation of Kurdistan Region Government, the governmental offices with NGOs became proactive to reconstruct the majority of villages belonging to the district and to build schools, health centers and mosques in addition to the water projects in the district. Back To Top
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