Sos Höyük is a multi-layered, significant ancient settlement located within the provincial borders of Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia. The mound, particularly notable for its continuous occupation from the Chalcolithic Age to the Iron Age, holds critical importance for understanding the prehistoric periods of the region and the cultural interactions between the Caucasus and Anatolia. Thanks to archaeological excavations, it has provided valuable information, especially regarding the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age.

History

Settlement at Sos Höyük dates back to the 5th millennium BCE, specifically the Middle Chalcolithic Age, according to initial findings. However, the mound's true significance emerged with the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age, which developed from the late 4th millennium BCE and dominated the region for approximately a millennium. During this period, Sos Höyük became one of the important centers of this culture, which spread across a wide geographical area. This period, exhibiting dense settlement and complex social structures, was characterized by its mudbrick architecture, distinctive pottery, and metalwork.

Occupation continued into the Middle Bronze Age (late 3rd millennium - early 2nd millennium BCE), but the influence of the Kura-Araxes culture waned, and the region encountered new cultural dynamics. The Late Bronze Age (mid-to-late 2nd millennium BCE) was shaped by the rise of the Hittite Empire in Anatolia and the presence of Hurrian-Mitanni states to the east. Although Sos Höyük may not have had a direct connection with these major powers during this period, it is thought to have been part of regional interactions. In the Iron Age (1st millennium BCE), with the rise of the Urartian Kingdom, the region became a dynamic transitional zone with Phrygian interactions to the west and Caucasian cultures to the east. The mound also saw occupation during this period, but its significance remained largely regional. While traces from later Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods have also been found, the mound's primary settlement and cultural emphasis are concentrated in the prehistoric periods.

Geographic Location

Sos Höyük is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Erzurum city center, in a wide and fertile plain along the upper reaches of the Karasu River (one of the main tributaries of the Euphrates). Its coordinates are 39.993717 latitude and 41.52222 longitude. This strategic location provided the mound with both fertile lands suitable for agriculture and easy access to water sources. At the same time, its position on natural transit routes connecting the Eastern Anatolian Plateau to the Caucasus and Mesopotamia ensured it was an important crossroads in antiquity. The surrounding high mountains and plateaus increased the settlement's defensive potential, while natural corridors extending along the Karasu Valley offered favorable conditions for trade and cultural exchange. Although the region's climate exhibits continental characteristics, the fertile plains and sufficient water resources supported the continuity of settlement from ancient times onward.

Significance in Antiquity

Sos Höyük's significance in antiquity stems particularly from its central role in the Kura-Araxes culture during the Early Bronze Age. During this period, the mound functioned not merely as a settlement but also as a regional production and distribution center, as well as a cultural focal point. With its economy based on agriculture and animal husbandry, it served as a model for smaller surrounding settlements, contributing to the development of regional craftsmanship through its mudbrick architecture, distinctive pottery, and metalwork.

Sos Höyük has offered a unique laboratory for understanding cultural transfer and interaction between Eastern Anatolia and the South Caucasus. Finds from the mound have revealed the exchange of raw materials, technology, and ideas between these two regions. In the Iron Age, with the expansion of the Urartian Kingdom, the region entered the sphere of influence of this great state; however, Sos Höyük's political and economic importance during this period was not as pronounced as in the Early Bronze Age. Nevertheless, the mound has been a valuable resource for tracing the lifestyles and cultural evolution of local communities in the region. In terms of religious significance, cult practices and ritual areas observed in early settlements offer clues about the society's belief systems.

Coinage

No coins from this settlement are recorded in the NumisTR database. Given Sos Höyük's intensive occupation and primary cultural significance in prehistoric periods, it is understood that it did not play as active a role as other major centers in the region during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, when coinage became widespread. Coinage was typically carried out by large city-states or empires with a strong central authority, a developed economy, and a trade network. Sos Höyük did not meet these criteria to be a minting center; rather, it maintained its existence as an agricultural and regionally-scaled settlement.

Archaeological Remains

Sos Höyük possesses rich archaeological remains, brought to light by long-term international excavation projects since the 1990s (particularly under the direction of Prof. Dr. Antonio Sagona). The mound is approximately 10 meters high and measures 300x200 meters, featuring a deep stratigraphic sequence. Numerous occupation layers, extending from the Chalcolithic Age to the Iron Age, have been identified in the excavations. Among the most striking finds are multi-roomed mudbrick dwellings, storage areas, and workshops dating to the Early Bronze Age. These structures provide important data for understanding the architectural characteristics and settlement patterns of the Kura-Araxes culture.

Additionally, abundant pottery fragments, obsidian and bone tools, metal artifacts (especially tools and ornaments made of copper and bronze), ovens, hearths, and graves have been unearthed during the excavations. The ceramics recovered from the mound include characteristic black-burnished and incised examples of the Kura-Araxes culture, serving as a fundamental reference point for establishing chronological and cultural connections. Analyses of plant remains and animal bones have provided detailed information about ancient dietary habits and economic activities. Today, while a portion of the excavation area is under protection, the mound functions as an open-air museum accessible to visitors and researchers.

Today

Sos Höyük is currently located near the Pasinler district of Erzurum province, in a relatively easily accessible position within modern transportation networks. Thanks to its proximity to Erzurum city center, it continues to be an important study area for local and international archaeologists, historians, and researchers. The area where the mound is located is a rural region where agricultural activities persist. Finds from Sos Höyük are exhibited at the Erzurum Archaeology Museum, shedding light on the region's prehistoric past. The mound maintains its importance for scientific research and the preservation of cultural heritage.