Abstract:

The history of Kayseri, an important center of ancient times, dates to the 4th millennium BC. Due to the positive potentiality provided by the city's location and natural resources, Kayseri has been settled in every period. Strategically located, the city served as one of Imperial Rome's leading headquarters. Kayseri has gained importance not only in the military but also in commercial industry; its location at the center of crossing points has ensured that social, political, and cultural activities continue uninterrupted. Unfortunately, the rich historical accumulation of Kayseri Province has also attracted the interest of smugglers. This situation has sometimes caused historical artifacts to be uncontrollably exposed and damaged. In such cases, the Kayseri Museum Directorate endeavors to protect and document cultural remains by intervening with systematic excavations. The Köşkdağı Burial Site was exposed through illegal excavation. Subsequently, the excavation was completed by the Kayseri Museum Directorate without considerable damage. In accordance with our request, the necessary permissions were granted by the Kayseri Museum Directorate for the graves and finds in the excavated area. In the Köşkdağı rescue excavation, the section of completed excavation was determined to be a burial area, since three different types of grave structures were identified, with more than one burial found inside the graves. Thus, the Köşkdağı Burial Site enriches our knowledge about the burial traditions and historical context of this region. These significant findings benefit the existing scope of literature.

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