Sos Höyük
Sos Höyük · Sos Hoyuk · Sos Höyük (Erzurum)
Chalcolithic to Medieval (c.4500 BCE–1453 CE; Kura-Araxes from 3500 BCE)·Chalcolithic → Kura-Araxes (Karaz) → Early Transcaucasian → Urartian → Medieval·🇹🇷 Erzurum Province, Pasinler Plain, Upper Aras/Karasu, Turkey
About
About Sos Höyük
High mound on the Pasinler plain east of Erzurum, excavated since 1994 by Antonio Sagona. Six millennia from Late Chalcolithic through Kura-Araxes black-burnished ware (3500 BCE), Early Bronze, Urartian fortress and Seljuk levels show continuous Transcaucasian-Anatolian interaction at 1750 m altitude.
Why it mattersStratified Kura-Araxes to Medieval 6,000-year sequence defining the Erzurum-Kars Transcaucasian corridor to the Caucasus.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Kura-Araxes replacement vs continuity in Late Chalcolithic?
Theories
- 01Sagona's Transcaucasian migration pulse model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Chalcolithic village c.4500 BCE; Kura-Araxes rebuild c.3500 BCE
- Period
- Chalcolithic to Medieval (c.4500 BCE–1453 CE; Kura-Araxes from 3500 BCE)
- Culture
- Chalcolithic → Kura-Araxes (Karaz) → Early Transcaucasian → Urartian → Medieval
- Builders
- Chalcolithic communities
- Purpose
- Transcaucasian gateway mound on Erzurum-Kars corridor
- Rediscovered
- Modern archaeological survey/ rescue
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.4500 BCE
Late Chalcolithic village founded
c.3500 BCE
Kura-Araxes black-burnished reoccupation
c.850 BCE
Urartian fortified level
1994
Sagona Melbourne University project
On the ground
Structures & features
39.9937° N · 41.5223° E · 1750 m · 3 mapped features
Sos Höyük — Kiln field
wallKey sub-area of Sos Höyük (Chalcolithic to Medieval) showing Chalcolithic horizon
39.9930° N · 41.5220° ESos Höyük — Palatial compound
gateKey sub-area of Sos Höyük (Chalcolithic to Medieval) showing Chalcolithic horizon
39.9938° N · 41.5226° ESos Höyük — North sector
moundKey sub-area of Sos Höyük (Chalcolithic to Medieval) showing Chalcolithic horizon
39.9946° N · 41.5232° E