AN EVALUATİON OF THE BUCKLES FOUND AT ZERZEVAN CASTLE
Social Science Forum, vol.10, no.7, pp.606-625, 2026 (Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 10 Issue: 7
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.10118/ssfj/2610731
- Journal Name: Social Science Forum
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, IBZ Online, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Political Science Complete, Directory of Open Access Journals, Political Science Abstract (IPSA), East & Central Europe Database (ProQuest), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Sociology Database (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Page Numbers: pp.606-625
- Keywords: Belt Buckle, Buckle, Castle, Garrison, Military, Roman, Zerzevan
- Ataturk University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This study presents a detailed analysis of fourteen previously unpublished buckles recovered during the excavations conducted at Zerzevan Castle, one of the eastern frontier garrisons of the Roman Empire and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2020. The buckles were unearthed between 2014 and 2025 through excavations, surface surveys, and site-cleaning activities and are evaluated as objects of personal adornment and everyday use. They are examined within the framework of a catalogue, typology, and archaeological context. As part of the metal assemblage from Zerzevan Castle a frontier fortress that witnessed the long-standing conflicts between the Roman Empire and the Parthian and Sasanian Empires these buckles provide valuable evidence not only for the study of daily material culture but also for understanding aspects of both civilian and military life. They further offer important insights into the socio-cultural structure and economic conditions of the community inhabiting the fortress. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the production techniques, typological development, distribution, and functional use of the buckles while reassessing the evidence from Zerzevan Castle in light of current archaeological scholarship. Furthermore, by comparing existing typological classifications and proposed chronologies with the archaeological evidence, the study seeks to contribute to ongoing discussions concerning the regional development, functional diversity, and chronology of buckle types.