Mehmetali KASIM

Located on the Individual Mountains, about 70 km. southeast of Şanlıurfa provincial center, Soğmatar, starting from the Chalcolithic Age due to the abundance of water resources, the Middle and Early Bronze Age, The Iron Age (Bc I. Bin), the Roman period and the Islamic period until the present day uninterrupted settlement, especially in the 2nd century AD. In the 19th century, the moon came to the forefront with the worship of the God of Sin. In addition to being used as a temple area, Soğmatar was also used as a necropolis area in the Early Bronze Age and roman times. Some of the rock tombs in the necropolis area built in the Early Bronze Age were replaced during the Roman period and were reused. These tombs, which were opened in the well-entrance plan, were extended to the south during the Roman period, the well entrance part was extended to the south, the stairway corridors were opened, the entrance part was expanded and the wall cells where the dead were placed on 3 walls were opened. Some of the tombs were left unfinished during this change, so these tombs show architectural features of both the Early Bronze Age and the Roman rock tombs. There are also numerous quarries because of its low rocky hills. Water wells opened to bedrock in antiquity are still used today.

Keywords: Cult Center, The cult of Sin, Nekropol, Funerary monument, Rock Tomb.