Introduction and an Archaeological Study of Göyce Qala Catacombs

Castle and village of Göyce Qala are located 46 kilometers southeast of Maragheh, with traditional structure and Rocky architecture. There is a catacomb in engraved rocks which was misinterpreted as storage for rainfall. Some scholars, local people, and internet materials have wrongly identified it as a storage place for water. The authors attempt to reject such claim and identify the chronology and functions of the site by surveying the site and drawing its plan and comparing it with foreign and Iranian similar sites. The tomb consists of a main chamber with attached spaces and a symbolic square yard that is integrated with stony staircases that reach to them and can be presented as rocky Urartu tombs known as “integrated single unit”. Apparently, in Urartu, tomb types indicated the buried people’s status and since catacombs usually were for royal family and local governor, understanding and presenting can be profitable for a better realization of the region in Urartu period.