Abstract:

Mollakent, located in the Bulanık District, is an important settlement center with its remains of Ancient and Middle Ages. Bendepur Höyüğü, Marnuk Castle, Gavur Bendi Barage and Mollakent Necropolis are some of the important archaeological centers of the Ancient Age. In the Mollakent Necropolis there are various types and varieties of rock tombs together. The reunification of the various types of tombs in the necropolis consisting of room tombs, arcosolium tombs and khamosorion tombs is very important for the detection of the dead burial traditions in the region. As known in the area, the rock cemetery tradition begins with Urartu. The tombs are one of the most important evidence that shows whether the rock cemetery tradition begins with Urartu continues or not. The story of the wooden roof we see in the cemeteries shows that the cemeteries should be linked to the post-Urartu periods more than the cemeteries, the lighting spacecraft found in the cemeteries, the large niche-like cell parts, the architectural decorations, candles or shell outlets, and the different characteristics of the cemeteries should be linked to the post-Urartu periods. In the Mollakent Necropolis, the arcosolium and khamosorion-type tombs, which are unlike the usual room cemetery conception of the Iron Age in Mollakent, are mostly known from the Roman era. Despite the lack of ceramics and similar findings in the Necropolis area that indicate the Roman era, it seems possible to associate these tombs in an architectural sense with the Hellenistic/Roman era.

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