Northeast Anatolia region covers the area between Rize-Erzurum at the west, south of Erzurum-Aras basin in the south, the Black Sea at the north, and Turkey-Russia at the east. The name “Northeast Anatolia Region” was given to the region since it is located in the northeast of our country's borders. The region, which covers an area of approximately 37,000 km2, consists of the Eastern Black Sea section of the Black Sea region and the Erzurum-Kars section of the Eastern Anatolia region.
The region has been inhabited since the earliest ages in history. Although the number of scientific studies on the Paleolithic Period is insufficient, significant Paleolithic Period centers have been identified in the region. Tombultepe, Cilavuz/Susuz Settlement, Ağzıaçık Stream, Ani, Borluk Valley, Kurbanağa Cave and Yazılıkaya in Kars province and Hamam Dere and Şıpşıp Cave in Erzurum province are among these centers. Inspecting the centers, I. K. Kökten found some tools from the Paleolithic Period. Challenging geographical conditions and climate and the insufficiency of prehistoric studies in the region caused the number of Paleolithic settlements to be limited. Again, researches on Neolithic Period in the region are also insufficient. The only center dated to this period in the region is Akçakale, which was found in the Çıldır district of Ardahan province. I. K. Kökten, who conducted a surface survey in the center between the years of 1943-1944, stated that the Neolithic Period technique was used in the construction of dolmens in Akçakale Island. In addition, Kökten stated that the very coarse, matte black colored potsherds that were found here belong to the Neolithic Period.
Various scientific studies on the Ancient History of the provinces that constitute our research area have been carried out from past to present. As a result of these studies, a total of 10 Köroğlu Castles, 3 in Erzurum, 2 in Erzincan, 2 in Kars, 2 in Igdır, and 1 in Ardahan, were identified. It is not a coincidence that these castles are called by the same name. It is possible to explain this situation with the Köroğlu Epic, which is one of the important works of Turkish Folk Literature. Even though there are some differences in the versions of Köroğlu Epic, which is the common epic of the Turkish World, resulted from the fact that it is told both in written form and by traveler epic tellers (Köroğluhans) in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as in Turkey, the main subject in the epics is almost the same. There has been a debate among researchers regarding that Köroğlu is one of the minstrels of the tradition of Minstrel Style Turkish Poetry, who lived in the 16th century, besides being an epic hero.
Köroğlu Castles are of great importance in terms of both regional history and the effect of oral literature works on the local people. The local people, who were influenced by the Köroğlu Epic, one of the common epics of the Turkish world, gave the name “Köroğlu” to both historical and archaeological centers and geographical settlements. Köroğlu Cave Settlement, Kiziroğlu Castle, and Köroğlu Rock-cut Tombs can be presented as examples of archaeological centers identified in the research area in addition to Köroğlu Castles, which are the main subject of our study. Local people state that Köroğlu used these castles as a shelter for himself. Köroğlu villages in the Şenkaya district of Erzurum and Sarıkamış district of Kars and Kiziroğlu village in Susuz district of Kars can be presented as examples of the effects of the epic on the names of the locations in the region.
Köroğlu Castles, which have been identified in the region, were generally built in a position to control the region in which they are located. Around the castles, there are important water resources, agricultural lands, and road routes. The castles, which were destructed as a result of natural events and illicit diggings, were generally built on the steep rocks, which are the highest points in the region where they are located. We can say that Köroğlu Castles, which are generally located in hard-to-reach places, were built for defense against enemy attacks.
The rampart wall construction techniques of the castles generally have similar features with each other. It is observed that mortar was used as the binding material in the construction of the castle rampart walls, which were built with the typical medieval rampart wall building technique. However, the rampart walls of Köroğlu Castles, which were identified in the central and Sarıkamıs districts of the Kars province, differ from other Köroğlu Castles. Displaying the architectural features of the Urartu State, the rampart walls of the Köroğlu Castle, located in the Sarıkamış district of Kars province, were reconstructed and continued to be used in the Medieval Period. It is seen that the rampart walls of Köroğlu Castle, which was identified in the central district of Kars province, were built in a cyclopean style.
