Are the location and situation of ancient rock ruins in Southeast Anatolia related to earthquakes?

Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region, as a part of Northern Mesopotamia, is a geography where traces of ancient civilizations and life are found. Engraved landscapes are another notable feature of the Southeastern Anatolia region. These landscapes, characterized by their intricate rock carvings and spaces, provide invaluable insights into the social, cultural, and religious interactions of ancient societies in the area. Among these areas, Ergani Hilar, Adıyaman Pirun (Perre), Silvan Hassuni, Mardin Dara and Hasankeyf are the most notable. Rock-cut spaces in Southeastern Anatolia have played a significant role in shaping the region's history and culture. Diverse geological formations and structures have contributed to the unique cultural and historical richness of Southeastern Anatolia. Another important feature of the region is that it is located in an active tectonic zone that has caused many devastating earthquakes throughout history. A series of devastating earthquakes occurred on several segments of the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) in February 2023, causing an extensive damage and heavy casualties in SE Türkiye and northern Syria. In particular, two catastrophic earthquakes with moment magnitudes (Mw) of 7.8 and 7.6 in Kahramanmaraş, an earthquake of Mw 6.4 in Hatay and numerous small-to-moderate size aftershocks greatly affected a large area in south-central part of Anatolia. In our GIS-based study on the effects of the earthquake and its geographical distribution, we concluded that these earthquakes had the most devastating effects on the plains and basin floors. This is due to the basin effect. The basin effect refers to the phenomenon where seismic waves are amplified and prolonged when they pass through sedimentary basins or low-lying areas. The presence of sedimentary basins can lead to the trapping and amplification of seismic energy, resulting in stronger ground motion during earthquakes. The basin effect is particularly important in areas with high population density, as it can significantly increase the ground shaking intensity during an earthquake. So, the following question comes to mind:Is the situation and location preference of ancient rock landscapes in Southeastern Anatolia related to Earthquakes? This study aims to open a door to this discussion with the available data.