History and archaeology
Karasu Rock Relief
Araban, Gaziantep
A Late Hittite relief in Araban carved on a rock face about 200 meters above the river in a limestone gorge cut by the Karasu Stream, showing a protective god standing on a stag.
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Its story
The relief was noticed by geologists in 1956 and published in 1958. In the scene, about 1.98 meters high, a male figure wearing a short skirt and shoes, holding a spear in his right hand and a bow on his shoulder, stands on the back of a red deer whose antlers are shown from the front; above his head is a sun symbol. Although there is no inscription, the figure is accepted to be Kurunta or Tuntiya, the protective god of wildlife. Researchers date the work to 1050-850 BC; at that time the area lay on the border between the kingdoms of Kummuh and Karkamış. Because treasure hunters blew up the upper part of the rock with dynamite in 1976, the figure's head has largely been lost. About 2 km upstream are the remains of the Karasu Bridge on the Zeugma-Samsat Roman road, and the relief is reached by a walk of about 45 minutes from the bridge.
Key facts
- Size
- 1.98 m x 1.6 m
- Period
- Late Hittite, 1050-850 BC
- Admission
- Free, open area
- Getting there
- From near Akbudak (Süpürgüç), about a 45-minute walk from the Karasu Bridge remains
Trip purpose
- Free
- Photography
- Quiet
- Hiking
Location
37.43083, 37.90847
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karasu_relief | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18411672 | https://kulturenvanteri.com/?p=65838 | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rock_relief_of_Karasu