Balaban Bey Mosque The Balaban Bey Mosque is situated in Kıgi Town, Bingol Province, and it stands as the oldest historical structure that still exists today. Its door is adorned with a three-line inscription that declares its construction in 1402 by Pir Ali Bey, the son of İbrahim Bey, who was the son of Bayındır Han, who was in turn the son of Akkoyunlu Fahrettin Kutluk Bey. The minaret was damaged at some point, but it was restored by Hacı Hasan. Likewise, the mosque underwent repairs by Pilten Bey, the son of Pir Ali Bey, during the Akkoyunlu period. This is further confirmed by the tombstone of Pir Ali Bey, dated 1503, which was initially located in the mosque's graveyard but was later used in the restoration of the minaret. The Balaban Bey Mosque has a single minaret and balcony, and the primary entrance is located on the north side of the building, which features an arched doorway. There is also an additional entryway on the east side, and the narthex boasts two tomb graves with three arches, which date back approximately 300 years. These graves are believed to belong to Sheikh Haci Yusuf Efendi and Hacı Mehmet Efendi, both of whom were from Kiğı gentry. Additionally, in the courtyard, there is a tomb that belongs to Hacı Mehmet from Zermek princedom in Turkish. The broken tombstone adjacent to it bears the date 1313 H. in Arabic numerals. The mihrab of the mosque features an ornamental design of three red tulips engraved on a green background. Its hipped roof is covered with sheet metal, while its walls are constructed with smooth cut stone in the corners and rubble stone in other parts, using Khorasan mortar. The corners are composed of stones of various colors and sizes, and the upper part of the windows are horseshoe-shaped. The mosque's minaret, situated in the northwest corner, is made of cut stone, with a conical upper portion and a wooden interior ceiling. Its door is located on the base, but due to frequent repairs carried out in 1734, 1768, 1794, and 1924, its original features have been largely lost. In the old Ottoman-era cemetery surrounding the mosque, there are twelve-sided tombstones in the shape of a turban or a raft, with inscriptions randomly scattered throughout the area.