Medieval History 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 Byzantine rule over the region faded, the region around the
Mor Bar Sauma monastery and Gerger became a base of power for local chiefs of
Syriac and Armenian origin, and the town was under control of
Constantine of Gerger. The
Seljuks pillaged Gerger and neighbouring
Siverek, and when
Belek Ghazi captured the town in 1122, he expelled most of its Christian population. He returned the following year to burn Gerger and enslave its remaining citizens.
Modern History According to The Geographical Journal in 1896, Gerger had 750 inhabitants with most being
Kurds, with the exception of few Ottoman officials and
Armenians.
Archaeology In 2018, archaeologists discovered a cave which used during religious ceremonies by Christians during the
Byzantine period. Cross figures found inside the cave. ==References==