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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Zivin Kalesi |
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Type:
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Fortress |
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Altitude:
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m |
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Region:
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Eastern Anatolia |
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Province:
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Kars |
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District:
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Sarikamis |
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Village:
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Süngütasi |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Middle Iron Age |
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| It is located in the Süngütasi (Zivin) Village, 35 km southwest of the Sarikamis District in Kars. The rock on which the fortress was built has an altitude of 1890 m, and it is 40 m high above the ground level. To the northwest runs the Zivin Brook which spills into the Aras River. In front of the fortress, which was built at the junction of two valleys, passes the former Erzurum-Kars motorway, and it has a strategically location as it commands the road connecting the Eastern Anatolia into the Caucasia. It is north-south oriented, erected in accordance with the topography of the bedrock. There are two cisterns carved into the bedrock inside the fortress. Although these cisterns have a rectangular plan, the extramural cisterns to the east of the fortress are round in plan. Next to the round cistern is a votive pit carved into the bedrock. There is a stepped water channel to the west of the fortress. But only the entrance of the tunnel can be seen since it was completely filled with stones and soil. Based on the historical records, it appears that the fortress was rebuilt during the Saltuklu Dynasty Period. Some researchers consider it as a Saltuklu fortress due to this reconstruction. However, it is certain that the fortress was in use during the Ancient Age. The Northern Campaign inscription of King Menua during the Urartian Period was found in this fortress. The inscription was removed and taken to to the Museum of Tbilisi during the Russian invasion. All researchers in the field of the Urartian civilization agree upon that Zivin Fortress is one of the most important fortresses in the region. It was claimed that the Zivin Fortress was once one of the most important royal cities of the kingdom during the Urartian Period, namely either Zua or Shashilu. |
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