Ancient Public Building from the Iron Age Unearthed in Sogmatar Ancient City, Turkey

A New Window into the Iron Age Opens in Şanlıurfa

Archaeologists working in Soğmatar Ancient City, located near the Yağmurlu neighborhood of Eyyübiye district in Şanlıurfa, have uncovered a remarkable discovery — a public building complex dating back nearly 3,000 years. The find, announced under the “Heritage for the Future” initiative led by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, offers new insights into the Iron Age and the ancient civilizations that once flourished in southeastern Turkey.

The excavation team, headed by Dr. Süheyla İrem Mutlu, has been working in the area for four years alongside Şanlıurfa Museum Director Celal Uludağ, archaeology lecturer Semih Mutlu, and students from Harran University.

A Sacred Center of Ancient Civilizations

Mutlu noted that Şanlıurfa is considered one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited regions, with archaeological finds stretching back to prehistory.
Soğmatar Ancient City, in particular, was known as a sacred center dedicated to the Moon God Sin and the Sun God Shamash, and is home to carved rock reliefs and monumental tombs that reflect the city’s spiritual and cultural importance.

Excavations are being carried out both on the 23-meter-high central mound (höyük) and within the surrounding necropolis, a sacred burial ground containing tomb chambers, sarcophagi, and monumental graves believed to have belonged to elite and noble classes of the ancient world.

Discovery of an Iron Age Public Structure

According to Dr. Mutlu, the team has so far unearthed 83 rock-cut tombs belonging to different historical periods — including the Early Bronze Age and Roman Era.

“We identified two distinct tomb types,” she explained. “One dates back to around 2400 BC, featuring well shafts carved into rock, while the other — from the Roman Period — includes monumental entrances and stairways.”

The most remarkable discovery, however, was the large public building complex dating to the Iron Age, specifically the Neo-Assyrian period (1st millennium BC).
Mutlu emphasized that this finding pushes the known history of Soğmatar even further back than previously believed.

“This is not just a settlement — it’s a highly organized urban area,” she added. “The presence of such a public structure suggests Soğmatar played a significant administrative or ceremonial role during the Iron Age.”

Architectural Details of the 3,000-Year-Old Structure

Within the newly uncovered complex, archaeologists have identified seven distinct rooms, with walls measuring two meters in height and one meter thick.
These dimensions indicate the building was massive and durable, likely constructed to serve an important civic or religious function.

While analysis continues, early results suggest the building was part of a larger complex that might have included administrative chambers, storage areas, or ritual spaces.

Soğmatar’s Expanding Historical Timeline

The findings further confirm Soğmatar’s continuous occupation and evolution from the Early Bronze Age through the Roman period. The site’s combination of rock-cut tombs, reliefs, and now public buildings paints a vivid picture of a thriving, multi-era settlement.

Dr. Mutlu highlighted that the entire site should be studied as a unified archaeological entity, combining the mound, necropolis, and temple areas to understand its full historical context.

“Our goal is to reveal how far back Soğmatar’s history truly extends,” she said. “Each new discovery brings us closer to understanding the religious and social fabric of ancient Upper Mesopotamia.”

Preserving a Legacy for Future Generations

The excavations are part of Turkey’s broader effort to protect and promote its archaeological heritage through the ‘Geleceğe Miras’ (Heritage for the Future) program. This national project aims to safeguard ancient sites while making them accessible for research and sustainable tourism.

As new discoveries emerge from the 3,000-year-old layers of Soğmatar, archaeologists hope the site will gain international recognition similar to that of Göbekli Tepe, another world-famous archaeological wonder located in Şanlıurfa.

Conclusion: Rediscovering the Forgotten Heart of Ancient Mesopotamia

The discovery of an Iron Age public building in Soğmatar is a milestone for Turkish archaeology, shedding light on the urban organization, architecture, and sacred life of one of the region’s most enigmatic ancient cities.

As excavations continue, Soğmatar promises to reshape our understanding of ancient Mesopotamian civilization — proving once again that Şanlıurfa remains at the very heart of humanity’s earliest stories.