Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Disaster and Risk, cilt.8, sa.3, ss.857-870, 2025 (Scopus, TRDizin)
This study examines the seismic traces at Kef Fortress, built during the reign of Rusa II of Urartu (685–645 BCE), in comparison with findings from the fortresses of Ayanis, Karmir Blur, and Bastam, in order to investigate the strategies developed by Urartian architecture against seismic threats and the role of earthquakes in the kingdom’s collapse. Excavations initiated in 2021 at Kef Fortress have revealed destruction layers, collapsed fortification walls, and evidence of fire, indicating that the fortress was heavily damaged by a powerful earthquake in the mid-7th century BCE. Similar evidence has been documented in the temple collapses at Ayanis, wall fractures at Karmir Blur, and deformations of fortification walls at Bastam. The comparative analysis demonstrates that while Urartu employed earthquake-resistant techniques such as thick stone walls and solid foundations, these measures ultimately proved inadequate against large-scale seismic events. It is further suggested that the earthquakes during the reign of Rusa II accelerated the process of the kingdom’s decline by disrupting water management systems and weakening defensive structures. The study emphasizes that future geoarchaeological and radiocarbon dating research may provide supporting evidence for this hypothesis.