“…In recent years, underwater surveys carried out around Lake Van have revealed a large number of structural remains (Işıklı et al, 2019;Gündüz, 2020). Additionally, some other studies showed that severe earthquakes, as well as climatic conditions, are highly effective on Lake Van and its surrounding settlements (Işık et al, 2012;Ertekin et al, 2021;Işık and Harircihan, 2022). It is known that Ahlat was under the rule of Urartu, Med, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Mervani, Seljuk, Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunlu, Safavid, and Ottoman at different periods of history (Özfırat, 1988;Kılıç, 1999, Köroğlu andKonyar, 2005;Çilingiroğlu, 2007;Yiğitpaşa and Can, 2012;Top, 2013).…”