Taulara is a Hellenistic settlement believed to be located in the modern-day Horoztepe area, within Turkey's Tokat province in ancient Anatolia. Based on existing archaeological data, this city is presumed to have been a fortress settlement, although no distinct surface remains are observable today. Taulara, whose existence is recorded particularly during the Hellenistic Period, is considered a strategic center of regional importance.

History

The history of Taulara points to a past extending particularly into the Hellenistic Period. This settlement, mentioned in ancient sources, was first associated with the modern Horoztepe locality by the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, based on the works of Eckart Olshausen. This association relies on a currently invisible fortress site within the borders of Tokat province, at Horoztepe. While precise information regarding Taulara's exact foundation date is lacking, it is thought to have emerged or developed as part of the political and cultural changes in the region during the Hellenistic Period.

From the 4th century BCE onwards, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, the region came under the influence of Hellenistic kingdoms, especially the Kingdom of Pontus. It can be assumed that Taulara also maintained its existence as part of the Kingdom of Pontus during this period and likely held a strategic position. Later, with the expansion of the Roman Empire into Anatolia, the city may have also fallen under Roman rule. However, the insufficient archaeological investigation of the settlement makes it difficult to obtain detailed information about its historical development. Current data suggest that the city persisted during the Hellenistic Period and was likely part of a regional defense network.

Geographic Location

Geographically, Taulara is an ancient settlement believed to be located within the borders of modern-day Turkey's Tokat province, in the Horoztepe area. This location suggests a strategic importance, considering the city's proximity to the Kelkit Valley and the surrounding mountainous terrain. Its identification as a fortress settlement further supports this strategic position. Tokat and its environs were situated on important trade routes connecting the interior of Anatolia to the Black Sea coast in antiquity. Taulara's location on or near these routes implies that it may have played a specific role in regional trade and military control.

The city was situated at a point overlooking the fertile valleys formed by the Çekerek and Kelkit Rivers, giving it potential access to agricultural resources and control over waterways. While there is no definitive information about its relationship with other ancient settlements in the vicinity, it can be assumed that it interacted with other Hellenistic and Roman period settlements in the region. This geographic location indicates that Taulara could have been a key point for both defense and regional oversight.

Significance in Antiquity

Taulara's significance in antiquity largely stems from its geographic location and the likelihood of it being a fortress settlement. As a fortress, it may have played a central role in the defense and control of the region. Especially during the Hellenistic Period, given the constant struggles and border conflicts between kingdoms in Anatolia, strategic points like Taulara would have held great military value. The city may have been tasked with protecting important passes or routes.

The city's location on or near regional trade routes may also have contributed to a certain economic importance. These routes were used for transporting agricultural products, minerals, and other goods. Taulara may have served functions such as ensuring the security of this trade, collecting tolls, or acting as an intermediate station for the distribution of regional products. However, due to insufficient archaeological excavations, we lack detailed information about the city's economic and political structure. There is also no specific evidence regarding its religious life. Therefore, Taulara's primary significance in antiquity is presumed to be military and strategic in nature, as part of a regional defense and control mechanism. This suggests that the city may have served as an outpost for local administrations or larger kingdoms.

Coinage

No coins from this settlement are recorded in the NumisTR database. In antiquity, the authority to mint coins typically belonged to large and important urban centers, kingdoms, or cities with autonomous status. No archaeological or numismatic finds have been encountered that suggest Taulara possessed a mint, based on current information. This situation implies that, despite being a regional center, Taulara's economic and administrative power was not at a level to issue its own coinage, or that its coinage needs were met through the mints of larger neighboring cities or the kingdoms to which it was subject. It can be assumed that a barter system or the coins of surrounding major cities were used in the regional economy.

Archaeological Remains

Current information regarding Taulara's archaeological remains is quite limited. The identification of the city with a "currently invisible" fortress site in the Horoztepe locality of Tokat province indicates the absence of distinct and easily noticeable structural remains on the surface. This situation suggests that the remains are either buried underground, have been completely destroyed over time by natural erosion and human activities, or that comprehensive archaeological surface surveys or excavations have not yet been conducted.

Detailed geophysical surveys or systematic

Today

The site where Taulara is believed to have been located, Horoztepe, is today an area that has not yet undergone extensive archaeological