Özet:

Erzurum province is located in the North East Anatolian part of the Eastern Anatolia Region. At the western end of the province, there is the district of Aşkale, which is our study area. In our study area, which is a very high region with an average altitude of 1800 m, small agricultural areas and animal husbandry in the high plateaus constitute the main source of income. The Karasu River and its tributaries passing through the district give life to the region. The district is at the crossroads for the roads from the Caucasus and Iran to continue to the west and north. It is known that the area has been inhabited since the Chalcolithic Age, as a result of the surveys and regular excavations we have done for many years with our team. When the Turaç Castle I-II, which is also the subject of our article, is examined, it can be said that the castles were heavily populated during the Bronze Age. Ceramic data, architectural traces, location and comparisons with other centers support this. Turaç I Castle is larger in size and architectural detail than other castles in the region and is in a better condition architecturally. It can be said that the Turaç II Castle was established to protect the Turaç I Castle. The fact that the castles are located within the borders of Aşkale, Tercan and Çat districts and that they dominate water resources and pastures increases their strategic importance. In our study, the geographical situation, architectural structure, pottery data of the castles were examined and compared with other centers and evaluated.