ZERZEVAN CASTLE IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES

Southeastern Anatolia, which forms the extreme border of the Roman Empire, has been transformed into a geography where great struggles between the two great powers of the time, Rome and Parthians/Sassanids, have been maintained throughout history from the perspective of economic, political and military strategy. The research that began at Zerzevan Castle, the military settlement of Rome, plays a very important role in understanding the Roman period of the region. Due to its location, the entire valley is dominated by this strategic Roman border garrison on the antique trade route that controls a large area. Besides Zerzevan should be considered as a settlement where not only soldiers settled but also civilians. When the existing architectural remains and the finds uncovered in the excavations are examined, it can be said that the area was used in the 3rd century AD; but it is very difficult today to estimate the area covered at that time. The walls and structures of the settlement were probably repaired during Anastasius I (AD 491-518) and Justinian I (AD 527-565) periods, and some structures have been reconstructed to the final state as found today. The settlement must have been in use until the conquest of the region by the Islamic armies in 639 AD.