Süheyla İrem MUTLU

Semih MUTLU

Celal ULUDAĞ

The figurines, which differ according to the regions and have basic features in themselves and constitute a very common group among the objects produced by the cultures of the Ancient Near East, play an important role in determining the cultures and cultural relations. The antropomorphic clay figurines it is known to have been used extensively in the northern Syrian settlements from the middle to late phases of the 3rd Millennium BC and belonging to the Middle Euphrates, which have a certain characteristic feature, differ in stylistic features from the figurines recovered from other parts of Syria and from the settlements in Mesopotamia. It is seen that two antropomorphic clay figurines recovered from two of the rock-cut graves dated to the Early Bronze Age IV in the Soğmatar Necropolis area have stylistically similarities with the figurines uncovered in the Middle Euphrates. The fact that the figurines recovered from Soğmatar was found in the rock-cut tombs found in the second half of the Early Bronze Age in the region can be considered as providing information about the dating and functionality of these figurines. In addition, the fact that the pottery data obtained from the rock cave tombs in Soğmatar other than figurines and other finds belonging to the second half of the 3rd millennium BC in terms of period also contributes to the idea of dating these figurines. In addition, the presence of these terracotta figurines belonging to the Middle Euphrates in the later phase of Early Bronze Age, which was recovered from the rock-cut tombs unearthed in the Soğmatar settlement in a rocky area, is also important in terms of the fact that Soğmatar entered into the area where Northern Syrian culture spread.

Key Words: Soğmatar, Early Bronze Age, Clay Figurine, Anthropomorphic, Rock-cut grave